Stephen Jones (Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health. Western Australia has the highest rate of amphetamine use in the country, so why has the government cut—

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert is warned.

Stephen Jones (Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Infrastructure) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

almost $800 million from health programs including local drug rehabilitation services like the Hope Community Services, which provide assistance in Armadale, in the seat of Canning, and across Western Australia?

Mrs Sudmalis interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gilmore will cease interjecting.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Throsby for his question, and I thank the opposition generally for their bipartisan support today, which is World Suicide Prevention Day, and their bipartisanship yesterday on R U OK? Day. The question that the member for Throsby asks me concerns a very serious issue, and that is the scourge of and the addiction to ice and methamphetamines particularly in rural communities and certainly across Australia. It is not correct that this government has cut the funds that the member for Throsby refers to. It is not correct that particular programs have been cut, as the member for Throsby refers to.

In fact, all of the funding that we in government have undertaken for front-line drug and alcohol services has been extended for 12 months. I appreciate that those 12 months are well underway. I have undertaken to make sure that the coordinated approach with which we tackle this problem picks up the best and the most effective, wherever they are in the country. There will not be any one-size-fits-all approach from Canberra here. If the service to which the member refers is doing what it does very well and is effective, then there is no reason to expect that it would not continue to receive funding.

The saves that the member refers to are general. They have never been targeted at alcohol and drug services. Finally, may I say—

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Your department has provided different information at Senate estimates.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat will cease interjecting.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat could, of course, have asked me a question. The Prime Minister and first ministers, in meeting and talking about this issue, have more statements to make and have a positive and concerted response to effect, because it is not just a federal government issue; it involves state governments as well. It involves acute services. It involves primary services. It involves primary care. It involves the interests of every member of this parliament. So I am happy to communicate in a bipartisan way on these important issues, as I always do, but I do not accept the premise of the question. It is completely wrong, and it should never have been raised.