Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, I am disappointed to hear the news about reported menu cutbacks in some New South Wales hospitals. It is of concern. All states and territories are required, as you know, to provide public hospital services in an equitable, timely and quality manner. It is important to be able to do that. This is a condition that the Commonwealth expects states to adhere to. Adequate diet is fundamental to ensure that we have quality and safety regulations and that the states obey those. We hope in that instance that the New South Wales government will work with the Greater Western Area Health Service and resolve this matter immediately. We expect them to be able to put their shoulder to the wheel and ensure that these issues are addressed as quickly as they can be.

As I said, we have already provided $1 billion additional funding to all states and territories to assist them with addressing the rising costs associated with healthcare services. We expect the states to put this money where it is most needed—to keep their patients safe. We will be looking to ensure that occurs within the public hospital system. Of course, we have not stopped at that point. We have also turned our attention to how we can invest to reduce elective surgery waiting times, and $600 million has been put into the system to address that.

Of course, what this demonstrates is that the Rudd government takes these matters seriously. We are moving forward with the health agenda. Through the COAG process we are working to address the public hospital system. We are also addressing the smaller issues—those matters which go to menus—which are extraordinarily important to the patients concerned. (Time expired)