Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Fierravanti-Wells, standing in for Senator McKenzie, representing the Minister for Health. Dementia Australia offers a valuable in-home counselling service for people affected with dementia. This has always been a free service funded by the federal government. My question is: how come it's free in most states but, in recent months, costs $5 in Victoria? We called Dementia Australia in Melbourne and were told, 'The government makes us charge that fee.' And the DA hotline told us, 'The fee applies to Victoria but not in New South Wales.' To add insult to injury, how come the waiting time for a counsellor visit in Victoria is six weeks, which is longer than in other states where the service is free?

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, I don't have a brief on that, but I will take your question on notice and provide an answer as soon as I can. Thank you.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, a supplementary question?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, could you please take this question on notice too. What happens when the person with dementia, who may not manage their own finances, doesn't have $5 in the house when visited, and what if $5 is unaffordable to a person who is on a pension and has significant health issues? Was the government even aware of the situation?

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I'll take that on notice and provide you with the information as soon as possible.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hinch, do you have a final supplementary question?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I forfeit my final supplementary question on the grounds that secondary supplementary questions are a waste of time.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point you have made previously during question time, Senator Hinch.