Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors. In my electorate of Page, community transport providers are warning that, without urgent fuel cost support, they will have to reduce services to more than 2,000 vulnerable people. What is the minister's plan to ensure recent rising fuel costs do not result in the loss of these essential services?

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. I acknowledge that there are providers all across Australia in all of our communities who are providing these very important services to older people. Transport is obviously a critical part of the public service that's provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Program—I assume it's that program that the services the member is referring to pertain to.

As the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has confirmed, Australia is fuel secure. Petrol companies have advised us that fuel stocks continue to arrive on time and in the quantities expected. We continue to closely monitor the impact of prices on aged-care providers. Of course, providers can seek support through existing aged-care business and viability supports offered by my department, and we stand ready to provide those supports through the Market Adjustment Program, through dedicated First Nations support programs or through our business and workforce advisory services. We're not experiencing a fuel shortage. What we're seeing is localised disruption, caused by significant spikes in demand.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It goes to relevance. It's regarding the cost of fuel, and 2,000 services will be cancelled unless you can deal with the cost—if you could come to the cost, please.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question was, 'What is the plan to ensure that services won't be reduced?'

Government members interjecting—

Order! I'm dealing with the point of order, which the manager was entitled to raise. The question asked was, as I understand, specifically, 'What is the minister's plan to ensure that services won't be reduced?' in relation to the issue. The minister is being directly relevant to the point that he was asked about, and he's referring to the services. I'm making sure that he is being directly relevant. The minister may continue.

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure if the member couldn't hear; I'll repeat myself. We stand ready to support aged-care businesses through our viability supports offered by the department. We've got a market adjustment program. We've got dedicated First Nations support programs. We've got our business and workforce advisory services. We'll continue to support these wonderful providers who look after older people across our communities every single day. We've had no interruption to services but will continue to monitor and support them as needed.