Lin Thorp (Tasmania, 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 explain to the Senate the Gillard government's vision for strengthening the health care system and is the minister aware of any alternative plans?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Ludwig, resume your seat. Wait a minute—you have not got the call. When those on my left and my right have finished their private discussions we will continue with question time.

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

I thank Senator Thorp for her question. On this side of the Senate we are doing the right things by the health system and its patients. Since 2007, Labor has strengthened the health care system and our plans for the future are very clear: more doctors, more nurses, the building and rebuilding of our hospitals and GP services, expanding primary care and dental care, cancer prevention and better services, and our plans—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! I remind senators on both sides interjections are disorderly.

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

Our plans are in stark contrast to those opposite. As the Gillard government gets on with the job of governing, almost nothing is coming from the other side about the issue of people's health. Now the member for Dickson has come up with a bright idea. In the other place he has been caught out telling the Australian newspaper that he is going to do away with Medicare Locals. Their policy will cut $1.2 billion out of primary health care over three years. What a cruel, heartless excuse for a policy it is. Taking a leaf out of Premier Campbell Newman's playbook, the opposition have admitted that they are going to wield the axe—and we know who they will sack. Not the admin, not the CEOs; they will take the axe to 3,000 health workers—that is what they will do. This is all we get from the coalition—cuts in health. He will follow his past. Premier Newman in Queensland cut health and education and we will have Mr Abbott cut $1 billion out of the health system like he did last time. What do you think he will do if he is elected? He will wield the axe like Premier Newman. He has done it before and he will do it again. Mr Tony Abbott, I think was, by all parts, one of the worst health minister's in Australian history. It will be repeated— (Time expired)

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

Order! I will give you the call when there is silence, Senator Thorp. You are entitled to be heard in silence.

Lin Thorp (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate how local communities would be affected if the government's Medicare Locals were abolished?

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

(—) (): Medicare locals employ doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, podiatrists, Aboriginal health workers and many other health workers like Medicare Local staff. They are responsible for planning and funding things like hours, GP services, mental health services and some childhood immunisation programs. But under Mr Tony Abbott these Medicare Locals—a critical part of our primary health system—would be gone. They would disappear. The health minister has said, and I agree, that it is very concerning that Mr Tony Abbott and Mr Peter Dutton have committed to scrapping Medicare Locals if the coalition wins government. It would be a sad day for health services, not only in Queensland but right across the country. At a time when patients require better primary care, the Liberals want to slash 3,000 front-line services from the health department. We need to be very clear— (Time expired)

Lin Thorp (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I have a further supplementary question. Can the minister outline to the Senate exactly what kind of services will be lost as a result of this change?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order. Hypothetical questions are not allowed. Can you please explain to me how this could possibly be allowed as a question: 'What might happen in the future if something happens?' It is purely hypothetical and should not be allowed.

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

There is no point of order.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! I have said there is no point of order. I am saying it is within the standing orders. I am allowing the question to stand. I am calling the minister to answer the question.

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order, I am asking for a ruling from you—

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

I have ruled that the question is in order, Senator Macdonald. I am not going to be badgered. Senator Ludwig.

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

(—) (): Thank you, Mr President. I thank Senator Thorp for her question—and that is the result from those opposite: all they want to do is harp on and harp on. What they do not want to do is deliver policy for Queensland or for Australia on health. Our Medicare Locals do a great job. All those opposite want to do is cut, cut and cut services: cut out of health, cut out of education, cut out of social services. Some of the programs Mr Abbott has in the firing line are great initiatives. In the firing line we would see the Lower Murray Medicare Local, who are working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to help transport Indigenous persons with chronic health—you would have that scrapped. If you get rid of Medical Locals, that is what would go. In the firing line is Footprints, a program targeted for the homeless community in my home state of Queensland, allowing them to access to primary health care and advanced care planning. If you got your way, that would be gone as well, cutting those services. It does seem to be Mr Tony Abbott's vision— (Time expired)