Louise Pratt WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Water
2:30 pm
My question this afternoon is also to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I would like to ask: how many Australians died from smoking related illnesses last year?
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health
2:31 pm
I will take the specific figure on notice, but I can assure the chamber that this government is absolutely committed to tackling smoking. Smoking causes a cost to this nation on social and economic grounds of around $31.5 billion a year. I would think that it would be something that would be bipartisan across this chamber—that the government and the opposition should ensure that every effort is being made to reduce smoking rates across the nation.
Louise Pratt WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Water
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. What quantum of funding has the Abbott government cut from anti-smoking programs in its first budget?
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health
2:32 pm
This is about outcomes, and the quantum of funding that this government puts towards tobacco and the cessation of smoking rates is absolutely the priority. Unlike those opposite, we do not spray around buckets of funding with no relativity to outcomes. That was all we saw from the previous Labor government—a succession of policies on the run, of funding announcements with no requirement—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
John Hogg President
Senator Nash, resume your seat. When there is silence we will proceed.
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health
Unlike those opposite we are going to focus this government's efforts on ensuring outcomes.
Claire Moore Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women
My point of order is on relevance. The question was about the quantum of funding that has been cut. I would ask you to draw the minister's attention to that question.
John Hogg President
The minister has 23 seconds remaining; and I do draw the minister's attention to the question.
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health
There have been a range of budget measures relating to smoking in the budget. We are absolutely committed in the budget to ensuring we get better health outcomes for all Australians.
Opposition senators interjecting—
Louise Pratt WA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Water
2:34 pm
Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that the National Party still accepts tobacco donations and has in fact received more than $350,000 in tobacco donations over the last decade? Why is the minister from a party that accepts tobacco donations responsible for tobacco issues?
John Hogg President
The minister can answer as much of the questions as relates to the portfolio.
Fiona Nash NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health
I can advise the chamber that matters of donations are in the purview of the federal and state organisation of the National Party.