Rebekha Sharkie

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister stated the aged care system was being rebuilt following a royal commission. He noted a new national definition for delayed discharges had been agreed upon to improve data consistency. He highlighted a $25 billion hospital funding deal to reduce waiting lists and get patients out of hospitals. He announced $115 million in additional investment for residential aged care capacity in hotspot areas, including 73 new beds in the Illawarra and 268 in Adelaide. Regarding Support at Home, he stated the system had nearly tripled since 2020, with urgent priority cases receiving packages within a month and high priority cases within about a month.

Answer from Clare O'Neil

The minister clarified that only citizens and permanent residents were eligible, not temporary residents. She argued that permanent residents were valuable contributors to the workforce and community. She criticized the Leader of the Opposition for making false claims about eligibility and stated that 260,000 people had accessed the scheme, emphasizing the government's commitment to housing affordability.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister noted that the federal sports ministry delivered over $500 million in funding and worked with state governments on infrastructure projects. She highlighted the $200 million Play Our Way program as a significant investment in regional sports infrastructure. She stated that while demand for funding was high, the government would continue to advocate for more funding through usual budget processes and that the proposal would remain under consideration.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister stated that the government had funded Cancer Australia to research the causes of the increase in early onset bowel cancer. He noted that the causes were not yet fully understood. The Minister mentioned that the government was working with the college of GPs to provide materials and resources to help doctors recognize symptoms in young patients. He also highlighted the role of campaign groups in raising awareness among young Australians to report symptoms.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government was increasing allied health fees and scrapping the treatment cycle that required new referrals every 12 sessions. He explained that the $5,000 allocation replaced this cycle, but any veteran with a clinical need to exceed this amount would be able to access additional services. The Minister noted that the median use was $1,900, and around one in 10 veterans might exceed the cap. He committed to consulting with the veterans community to establish an approval system for additional services.

Answer from Anthony Albanese; Julie Collins

The Prime Minister stated that the government had worked closely with the South Australian government to provide support and research for the algal bloom. The Minister for Agriculture noted that over $113 million had been invested in preparedness for bird flu. She mentioned agreements with states and territories for biosecurity incursions. She reported two confirmed tests from Western Australia and another positive test from the CSIRO lab. She stated that local testing was underway and that she would provide further updates after consulting with the chief veterinary officer.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister stated that 364,723 older Australians have access to Support at Home places, with 83,000 additional places being delivered this financial year and 32,000 next year. He noted that wait times have decreased across all priorities since the program began, and urgent cases receive funding within a month. He confirmed that additional funding has been allocated to review the prioritisation mechanism to ensure people like the constituent receive care.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister disputed the $1,600 figure, stating the average impact would be between $230 and $250 per year. He explained that the government does not see a rationale for providing different levels of support based on age for households on the same income. He stated that the $3 billion in savings would be invested in aged care services, including more beds and better care, to address rising demand.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister stated that all assessments were completed by qualified human assessors with clinical input. He noted that 180,000 assessments had been completed since November, with less than half a per cent requesting a review. He emphasized that the new system had reduced median assessment times to under a month, compared to up to 10 months under the previous system, and had eliminated $4 billion in unspent funds.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The treasurer clarified that the excise is a fixed amount per litre and does not rise with fuel prices. He stated that suspending the excise was not under consideration. Instead, the government was providing cost-of-living relief through tax cuts, cheaper medicines, and student debt relief. He also noted that the government was working to ensure fuel supply and empower the ACCC to penalize misconduct.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister confirmed that national fuel supplies remained secure and that the minimum stock obligation had not been accessed. He noted a 139 per cent increase in demand at the Adelaide terminal. The government was working with the ACCC to facilitate exemptions for industry coordination and had doubled penalties for misleading conduct to $100 million. He also requested additional supply and demand data from fuel terminals under the Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting Act, while balancing compliance burdens on small businesses.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer acknowledged financial pressure on Australians and the government's focus on competition policy and price transparency. He stated that the government was consulting to ensure measures were implemented correctly but was working to strengthen arrangements as quickly as possible.

Answer from Catherine King

The minister invited the member to attend her drop-in clinic to discuss the matter further. She stated she would be happy to provide an answer during that meeting.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister acknowledged the significant increase in longer-stay older patients in hospitals, attributing it partly to the ageing baby boomer population. He stated that the government had funded geriatric outreach teams in South Australia to prevent hospital admissions. He noted that a shortage of residential aged-care beds was a key issue and that the government was designing a new aged-care system to stimulate investment. Talks with state governments regarding a fresh five-year hospital funding deal were underway, aiming to extend arrangements to help patients transition out of hospitals.

Answer from Michelle Rowland

The Minister stated that the government had decided to provide additional funding for the CSIRO through the MYEFO process, with details to be communicated at the appropriate time. She confirmed that the CSIRO continued to receive significant base funding of close to $1 billion per annum. She emphasized that staffing decisions were a matter for the CSIRO's board and management, respecting its operational independence, while affirming the government's commitment to a strong and sustainable CSIRO.

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister stated that from Saturday, administration prices under the new Support at Home program would be capped at 10 per cent. He noted that the independent pricing authority had issued pricing guidance and would introduce full pricing caps from July 2026.

Answer from Richard Marles

The Minister acknowledged the importance of the Defence estate audit, which assesses the fitness of properties for future needs. He explained that the response required more time than initially anticipated due to the complexity of the work and its implications for personnel. He assured the member that the government is working at pace and will respond to the audit in the near future, at which point he will address her specific correspondence regarding Woodside Barracks.

Answer from Mark Butler

The minister stated that bulk-billing incentives were higher for GPs outside major cities, with the member for Mayo's electorate seeing some of the largest increases. He noted that new bulk-billing investments from 1 November would provide significant increases for rural GPs, raising potential earnings to about $457,000 compared to $400,000 in cities. He also highlighted student debt relief for graduates working in remote areas.

Answer from Sam Rae

The minister denied deliberately slowing assessments, stating that a new single assessment system was being rolled out to reduce wait times. He acknowledged that wait times were longer than desired but noted that 521,000 assessments were completed last year. He explained that the waitlist included duplication and that 99 per cent of those waiting for packages were already receiving some level of care. The minister emphasized that reforms were complex and required a smooth transition.

Answer from Sam Rae

The Minister explained that the delay allowed for the implementation of the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program on 1 November, which replaced the existing Home Care Packages. He noted that demand had grown significantly, with over 300,000 people accessing care compared to 150,000 in 2020. He assured that 80,000 additional places would roll out in the first 12 months of the new program. Until then, packages would continue to be assigned weekly, with high-priority cases receiving care within a month.

Answer from Tony Burke

The minister confirmed $14 million in funding with South Australia to address the algal bloom. He cited $24.5 million for kelp and shellfish restoration projects and $512 million for marine park management research. He noted that the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO were developing marine heatwave forecast tools. He attributed the algal bloom to nutrient runoff, cold water upwelling, and marine heatwaves.

Answer from Michelle Rowland

The Minister confirmed that a full consultation on reforming the USO was announced in 2023 and had been endorsed by stakeholders. She noted that Telstra's contract as the universal service provider is due to expire in future years, necessitating a determination of the new scope. She assured the member that the government was working diligently on reforms to benefit regional Australia.

Answer from Jason Clare

The Minister stated that extra places for medical studies had been allocated in the budget two years ago and that this was always under consideration. He highlighted broader investments in education, including free TAFE and a 20 per cent cut to student debt, to help more people complete degrees. He mentioned new funding for a university study hub on Kangaroo Island to support regional students.