QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:12): No-one wishes to see an older person die waiting for the care that they require, and our government understands that we need to make the investments that will make Australia's aged-care system fit for the future. Australians are getting older, and that's a good thing.

We are living longer and healthier lives than any generation before us, and that means we need to make additional investments, and we need to make change. When we came to government, the aged-care system was not fit for the population that we had, let alone fit for the future—not even close. The government that the Liberals oversaw cut $2½ billion and failed to meet the growing need for aged care.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Askew? Senator Askew: It's just a matter of relevance.

The question was directed very clearly at how many. Senator Colbeck interjecting— The PRESIDENT: The minister is being relevant. And, Senator Colbeck, I'm going to ask you to withdraw that remark.

Senator Colbeck: I withdraw. Senator McALLISTER: So $47 billion will be invested in aged care in the upcoming financial year, and that is the largest investment in this country's history. The government is continuing to back older Australians and the workers who care for them, and the system that they rely upon.

The truth is that generational reform—and it is significant reform that is underway—is not a single moment; it is a long-term project, and this government is getting on with it. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I ask for silence. Senator McALLISTER: We are compressing a decade's worth of reform, reform that could have taken under place under the watch of those opposite— Senator Colbeck interjecting— Senator McALLISTER: I see Senator Colbeck interjecting.

I would observe that Senator Colbeck has more to say from his seat up the back there than he ever had when he was sitting over here as the minister. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I remind senators I did call those on my left to order. If you make an interjection, the minister is entitled to respond to it.

Senator Askew, first supplementary?