Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. I refer to the newspaper ads that appeared in Victorian newspapers over the weekend with respect to hospitals funding. Did the Independent Communications Committee review and/or approve the advertisements relating to Victorian hospital funding that appeared in Victorian newspapers over the weekend? How much did the advertisements cost to prepare and publish?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is probably a question more appropriate for the Special Minister of State, who handles that particular committee—

Opposition members interjecting—

No, I am happy. The level of detail I am sure Senator Wong would have been able to provide would be far more than I could.

Opposition members interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When there is silence on both sides, we will proceed.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Gillard government has announced a $107 million rescue package for Victorian hospitals, following Premier Ted Baillieu's failure to properly manage the state's health system. The cash injection will be paid directly to local hospital networks, which will distribute the money to ailing Victorian hospitals, and it will not pass through the hands of the Baillieu government.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Senator Brandis was first to his feet.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President, that of relevance. The minister was asked about the costs of some advertisements and whether they had been approved by the relevant committee. Those were the only matters the question was directed to.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am listening closely to the minister's answer. At this stage there is no point of order.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For two years Premier Baillieu's blatant disregard for the welfare of Victorian patients has seen beds close, elective surgery waiting lists blow out and standards of care decline. That is what the Baillieu government has delivered.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Wait a minute, Senator Ryan, you will get the call. When I have silence in this place, I give people the call. You are entitled to be heard in silence. I am consistent right across the board.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order relates to direct relevance. It is another 20 seconds since you previously ruled that he was in order. He has not mentioned the advertisements, or the committee, or the process or the cost.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Wait a minute, Senator Collins, I said I would give the call when there is silence.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy covered at the outset of his answer that if the opposition wants a more precise answer on this issue they should direct the question more appropriately. He referred to the Special Minister of State, but what Senator Conroy is covering, which is directly relevant, is the need for those advertisements. The situation in Victorian hospitals is indeed dire and that is why those advertisements—

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! I did say on the previous point of order that I was listening to the answer of the minister. On the current point of order I will say that I am continuing to listen to the minister's response, but I do draw the minister's attention to the question.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On government advertising, the government continues to spend more than $100 million less than the $254 million spent by those opposite in 2007—$254 million of taxpayers' funds spent on your previous government's advertising. We continue to be $100 million less. On the specific issue of the process of those ads, I am happy to take that on notice to see if there is any further information that is available.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is it not a fact that these advertisements are blatantly untrue, in that the $107 million cut from Victorian hospitals for the years 2011—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Senator Ryan.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Should I start again, Mr President?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, no—continue.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That the $107 million cut from Victorian hospitals for the years 2011-12 and 2012-13 was being applied in the current financial year and was solely the result of a determination by Treasurer Swan in response to preliminary ABS data, which asserted, among other things, that Victoria's population had actually fallen when compared to previous population funding levels?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Those ads absolutely accurately describe the situation that for the last two years Premier Baillieu's blatant disregard for the welfare of Victorian patients has seen reductions in health care. This funding injection will go directly to front line hospital administrators so that they can immediately restore services shut down by the Baillieu government in recent years. Despite significant increases in Commonwealth health funding and additional GST revenues paid to Victoria, health results in Victoria have been going backwards for almost two years. Commonwealth funding will increase by over $900 million over the next four years, and we expect the Victorian government to lift its game.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister correct the record and concede that instituting retrospective funding cuts for procedures and treatments performed up to 17 months earlier was misguided and that the advertisements in Victorian newspapers were profoundly misleading by claiming these cuts were the result of anything other than the decision by this Labor government—by Treasurer Wayne Swan?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand why those opposite are so sensitive in defence of the Baillieu government, because if you cast your eyes to the media this morning, Mr President, you will see that documents show the extent of the incompetence and cynicism of the Baillieu government. The Baillieu government pulled on a fight with the Commonwealth government to act as a smokescreen for the effects of their own $616 million worth of cuts. Elective surgery waiting lists have reached a record high of 46,131—that is 7,000 more than when the government came to office. New documents show that, thanks to Premier Baillieu's cuts, he was planning for even greater blowouts this year. The Premier of Victoria continues to engage in completely misleading Victorians— (Time expired)

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister outline to the Senate what the federal government is doing to support Victorian patients and provide resources to Victorian hospitals?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his question, and I am sure Senator Ryan is listening. This government is acting in patients' interests and investing strongly in our health system. The Commonwealth is providing Victoria with significant additional funding under the National Health Reform Agreement, which I am sure Senator Ryan would agree with. In 2012-13, the federal government provided $3.6 billion in total health funding to Victoria. In 2015-16, health funding will rise to $4.5 billion. It will rise to $4.5 billion. This means the Victorian public hospital system will receive over $900 million—$900 million—in additional funding from the Gillard government over the next four years.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for COAG) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you keep saying it twice, does it add up to twice as much?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say it twice because those opposite did not hear it the first time, nor the second time.

On top of this, the federal government last week announced a $107 million rescue package to be paid directly to Victorian hospitals. Why? Because we are acting to ensure patients can access the services they need by delivering this $107 million cash injection to the Victorian hospital system so that it can immediately restore services that have been shut down by Premier Baillieu's government. This is in stark contrast to $616 million that Premier Baillieu's government have slashed from health care. They took $616 million out of health care. Senator Ryan should be writing to Premier Baillieu and demanding where that $616 million went, because they have slashed funding for patients, and patients are suffering as a consequence of those severe cuts. (Time expired)

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for that answer, and I am sure Senator Ryan appreciates the facts being presented to him.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! No preambles.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline to the Senate, and to Senator Ryan, any recent actions that have been detrimental to Victorian patients and Victorian hospitals?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his first supplementary question. The Victorian government once again have displayed their complete and utter contempt for Victorian patients. They do not seem even to be able to manage their own healthcare system. Like Mr Abbott and Premier Newman, all they can do is cut health spending. They do not want to invest in patient care. They do not want to invest in future hospitals. The Victorian government have slashed $616 million from the Victorian health system and, importantly, they have not even released the elective surgery data since the June quarter last year. They have not even provided that data. The Victorian Minister for Health needs to stand up and release that data so that we can compare and have a look at what that data provides. However, last night some other data was leaked and published on the front page of the Herald Sun. The health minister should stand up and either admit they are his figures or come out and complain. (Time expired)

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Again, I thank the minister for that answer. Is the minister aware of any risks to the health system more broadly?

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Marshall for his second supplementary question. This year the Gillard government is providing over $13.3 billion for Australian public hospitals, and this figure will continue to grow in the future as we continue to invest in hospitals and health reform. The Minister for Health in Victoria, Mr Davis, is not as good with his cuts as the opposition were when they were in government: he has only managed $616 million from his budget. But those opposite cut $1 billion when they were in government. Mr Abbott cut $1 billion—twice as good as Mr Davis, but twice as bad.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister is misleading the Senate. He knows very, very well that, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian government spending in public hospitals increased—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is not a point of order, Senator. That is a debating point which you are—

Senator Fierravanti-Wells interjecting—

Senator Fierravanti-Wells, that is a debating point, which you are entitled to take up in 17 minutes time. If you wish to debate the issue, that is it. It is not a point of order.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The truth obviously hurts. Premier Newman in Queensland cut education and cut health. Premier Baillieu in Victoria cut health. What do you think Mr Abbott will do? He has got form. He will also cut from health and hospitals and education. That is what Tony Abbott will do if he should get into government, and you know that very, very well. (Time expired)