Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic condition in Australia, with prevalence quadrupling since the nineties. Not only does diabetes create significant health impacts; it also increases the risk of more than 50 other serious conditions, including heart disease and cancer, and adds further strain to an already stretched healthcare system. In Tassie, diabetes impacts two in five people under 65, with diabetes costing $190 million per year in health care in Tassie alone. This puts a massive strain on the health system, with diabetes to blame for one in six occupied hospital beds. What is the government doing to specifically reduce the burden of diabetes and its complications in those living with the condition? Will you be committing more funding in the budget?