QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:42): When we came to government, the aged-care system wasn't built for the population that we have today, let alone the one that we will have in 10 or 20 years. There is a reason that the royal commission named their interim report Neglect. Those opposite neglected that system, and the Albanese government is delivering generational reform in the space of just a few years.

We are putting older Australians' needs front and centre in a new rights based act. Since we came to government, aged-care funding has increased by over 80 per cent. But we do know that we need to manage the budget and that this requires responsible choices.

We get a lot of lectures from those opposite about the need for strong fiscal management, yet, every time a responsible decision is brought to this chamber, politics takes over for the coalition. We should be very clear that this is all about self-interest. Nothing about it relates to the national interest.