Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Fierravanti-Wells, standing in for Senator McKenzie, representing the Minister for Health. Dementia Australia offers a valuable in-home counselling service for people affected with dementia. This has always been a free service funded by the federal government. My question is: how come it's free in most states but, in recent months, costs $5 in Victoria? We called Dementia Australia in Melbourne and were told, 'The government makes us charge that fee.' And the DA hotline told us, 'The fee applies to Victoria but not in New South Wales.' To add insult to injury, how come the waiting time for a counsellor visit in Victoria is six weeks, which is longer than in other states where the service is free?