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

I do have a letter from the honourable Justine Elliot MP, Minister for Ageing, which I intend to table at the conclusion of question time if I am permitted by those who are carping on the other side—the opposition, of course.

The Rudd government is engaged in fundamental reform of the health and hospital and aged-care systems. The government is taking a full policy and funding responsibility for aged care to build a national aged-care system. We are supporting that national system through—and these are the issues that we are trying to achieve for the aged-care system—better access to services by establishing one-stop shops for aged-care information assessment, more highly trained aged-care workers, more aged-care places, better access to GP and primary health services, greater choice through the introduction of consumer-directed care and stronger protection for older Australians receiving care. The government welcomes, of course the aged-care sector commitment to— (Time expired)