Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Women and the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Gallagher. I note you just boasted in a previous answer about your support for women. But during the election, Labor matched the coalition's commitment to subsidise the cost of assisted reproductive technology services for aspiring parents diagnosed with cancer or risk passing on a genetic condition yet this commitment has been shelved in the budget to achieve a savings benefit. Has the Albanese government broken its promise to aspiring parents in need of IVF support?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not at all. I would say the budget also includes almost $70 million, from memory, for women's health initiatives. The assistant minister, Minister Kearney, is leading the work on a women's health strategy. She's been doing a lot of work and consulting with various stakeholder groups. But this budget is a proud budget in terms of the investments in health, in hospitals, in primary care, in—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order. The question was specifically around a particular budget measure that is missing from the budget in relation to IVF for women and parents who have been diagnosed with cancer or genetic conditions. There has been no mention whatsoever of that measure.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I don't need the commentary. I do believe the minister is being relevant. She has been talking about women's health and, if not, I will direct her to the question. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think it was about our commitment. I answered the question right at the front when I said, no, I didn't agree with the proposition that was being put by Senator Askew. I went on to explain the investments we're making in women's health and the work that is being done to put together a strategy around it, because we take this seriously. We understand that women's reproductive health is key to women's health overall and that obviously has flow-on impacts into our economy and our community; that is the point I'm making. I'm also making the point that we have a very positive investment in health. In dealing with some of the challenges, again—surprise, surprise—we were left by a former government that had spent nine years trying to dismantle Medicare and not investing in health.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

You have a senator on her feet. Order! Order! Order! I have called the opposition to order three times. You had one of your frontbenchers on her feet. Senator Ruston?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, on a matter of relevance. The question referred specifically to a budget measure in relation to people who have cancer or genetic conditions in relation to IVF. She has not answered that question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, as you know, I can't direct the minister to answer the question in a way that might be your response. I do believe, for the second time, the minister is being directly relevant.

Opposition senat ors interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Are you having another question? Because that wasn't the question. I have answered the question that was put to me straight up, and I am now going on to explain the other positive measures in the budget, including measures around women's health. It's a positive budget for women. It's a positive budget for health. It's dealing with a decade of delay and—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Once again, on relevance: I respect your decision here, President, but the minister has not answered the question despite saying she has. I would ask you to direct her to answer the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I may, President, before your ruling: I'd submit that if Senator Ruston had been paying attention the minister had actually responded directly to that point, the specific policy point, in her first few sentences.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I'm very happy for you to spend as much time on this as you wish. We're always happy to have our record on health matched up against yours, but that's a different point.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order!

Senator McGrath! I should not have to name senators to call you to order. My ruling is: once again, I do believe the minister is being relevant. Minister Gallagher, did you finish? Okay. Senator Askew, first supplementary?

Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During the election, Labor matched the coalition's commitment to fund 20 new Gidget Foundation Australia perinatal mental health and wellbeing services in every state and territory, yet the budget only provides for 12 services across Australia. Has the Albanese government broken its promise to new mothers in need of mental health and wellbeing support as well?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. This budget delivers on the commitments we made—

An opposition senator: Apparently it doesn't!

It does. You're even accepting that it's in the budget and they will be delivered, okay?

Opposition senators interjecting—

Is this 20 questions in one? Sorry, President; I get asked one question and then I get another 10 questions given to me. I would direct people—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! I'm waiting for quiet. Senator Askew has asked a first supplementary, which the minister is endeavouring to answer. You may not like her answer, but at this point she is still being relevant. It is not helpful for any of you to be parroting other numbers across the chamber. If you have a question, speak to your side about getting on the list. I'm requiring the minister to answer the question that is for her, and that is the question from Senator Askew.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President, for your protection there. The government will be delivering on the health commitments that we made during the election campaign. If you look at budget paper 2, which goes through the measures, you will see page after page of investment in health, particularly in areas— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Askew, a second supplementary?

Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese government has shelved or cut two of your key women's health commitments from the election campaign. Will you apologise to new mothers and aspiring parents who are in need of support for prioritising other spending areas over your commitments to them?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not about to accept a lecture from those opposite about women and services for women. If you look in this budget, it is a good budget for women. If you read budget paper 2, page 143, you will see that we have delivered on the commitments we've made. Indeed—surprise, surprise!—we are going to also do some work on evaluation of initiatives to make sure they are delivering the support to the communities that those programs are intended for, and that is good, responsible budgeting. That is exactly the approach I will take as finance minister. We deliver on things. We also evaluate to make sure they are delivering the support and the programs that are intended by those measures.