Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, have you had your moment of glory now?

Senator Wong interjecting—

You seem to think question time is all about Penny and that, if the focus is not on Senator Wong, question time has failed—but, quite clearly, question time does fail because answers are given. The minister stated the facts, which the previous speaker just chose to ignore completely. Funding for aged care is at record levels. In 2017-18 alone aged-care care spending is estimated to reach $18.6 billion. Over the next five years, funding will grow by $5 billion to $23.6 billion. Compare Labor's record, where they would continually cut funding to aged care—and many other things as well, I might say—with this government's record of increases of $5 billion over the next five years. In addition, $1.6 billion has been provided to create an additional 20,000 higher-need home care packages since last December. In excess of $50 million is being provided every year for dementia specific programs. A further $5.3 million has been committed over four years to pilot improvements to care for people living with dementia, with an emphasis on the use of innovative technologies.

These are actual facts. These aren't lies. These aren't thought bubbles. These don't come from the Labor Party's campaign promoters about what might appeal to Australian voters. These are actual facts. What Senator Polley has indicated—and no doubt Senator O'Neill will do this shortly—

An opposition senator interjecting—

Make up any lie you like. Follow the normal Labor program and make up any lie give any misstatement of fact. They hope that if they say it often enough, the Australian public will believe it. It worked for Medicare.

Opposition senators interjecting—

It did work for Medicare, and I guess this is the next Mediscare campaign. They talk about aged people with facts that are not true and hope that some of it sticks for political purposes. (Time expired)