Ms MACKLIN (3:24 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Minister, do you agree with the statement in this secret health department submission that the requirement for nurses to fund their own specialist training is a major cost and disincentive to nurses acquiring new qualifications? Didn't the Howard government contribute to the nursing crisis in 1996 when it abolished HECS funded places for postgraduate nursing? Will you now accept responsibility for the national nursing shortage in our public hospitals or do you agree with the Prime Minister that enough has been done in health?

Dr WOOLDRIDGE (Minister for Health and Aged Care) —I thank the honourable member for her question. Firstly, it is very hard to comment on a document that I am not certain about. But, if it came from the government, all I can say is that it must substantially increase your sum knowledge about health care, because we have failed to see anything from the Labor Party whatsoever and they have had 5½ years in which to do something. Secondly, I would be very happy to put the government's record on health care against anything any government has done previously in a similar period of time: the work in rural health, the work in public health—particularly with smoking, diabetes, mental health and immunisation— the work with the last health care agreement, the work in primary health care and the fact that the level of bulk-billing is higher today than in the last full year of the Labor Party government. It is a very proud record in health care.

On the issue of nursing specifically, if there is a problem it was 13 years of neglect under the Labor Party—a complete absence of ideas and a complete abdication of any responsibility whatsoever. I am very happy to have—

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Melbourne clearly wants me to do only one thing and that is warn him, so I will!

Dr WOOLDRIDGE —the fact known that we are always looking for ideas. I am delighted that the opposition has finally got some of them, even if they are the government's.

Mr SPEAKER —I call the member for Mallee.

Mr SPEAKER —I remind the Leader of the Opposition that, if the Prime Minister were to interrupt as frequently as he does, he or someone on my left would expect me to take action. The Leader of the Opposition has the same obligation as all other members of the House.