Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I take note of that report. I wish to commend the Auditor-General on a fine report because it relates to the Practice Incentives Program, which is a very important program. It is administered by the Department of Health and Ageing in association with Medicare Australia. A particular aspect of that program relates to those who are impacted by diabetes. There are about 1.5 million people with diabetes in Australia. About 140,000 of those have type 1. I particularly wish to express my concerns for and on behalf of those with type 2 diabetes. They are not getting the deal that they should. The government announced prior to the election a particular incentive, a particular initiative, and that was nearly $440 million for a particular program that would help and benefit people with diabetes.

Since then we have heard nothing. The government promised and agreed to establish a diabetes advisory group made up of particular stakeholders, key people—for example, Diabetes Australia, the AMA and others. That is fair enough; it is entirely appropriate to have the key stakeholders in that group. But guess what? They have not heard anything. They do not know what is going on. There are no terms of reference.