QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:58): This government takes its responsibilities to fund the services that Australians rely on very seriously indeed. As I've already indicated in my answer to the primary question, we recognise that this will not be a welcome decision for many Australians, but it is a necessary one.

It is necessary because there is so much work to do to repair the damage that was done over a decade by those opposite to the aged-care system. We have a growing population of older people. Senator Ruston interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, stop the running commentary.

Senator McALLISTER: Investment is required to increase the number of aged-care beds and to increase the number of packages, and the $3 billion that has been delivered in the last budget to exactly these priorities reflects the fact that our government takes these issues seriously. It is a great deal more than was offered by Senator Ruston at the last election, when she couldn't even be bothered to cost a single aged-care policy and take it there.