Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. I refer in particular to Budget Paper No. 2, pages 223 and 224. Can the minister explain to frail and aged Australians who are waiting for a nursing home bed and explain to their families why the money put aside to pay for new high-care nursing home beds has now been shunted to failed state and territory public hospitals? Why is this money now being used for beds for the frail and aged in public hospitals who are waiting for a nursing home bed? Isn’t Kevin Rudd’s grand hospital plan simply shuffling beds and recycling money to buy off the states at a cost to frail and aged Australians?