Dr WASHER (2:35 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Ageing, representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister update the House on the Australian government's efforts to treat the victims of the 12 October terrorist attack in Bali?

Mr ANDREWS (Minister for Ageing) —I thank the honourable member for Moore for his question and for his ongoing interest in the consequences of this tragedy. Over the weekend, my department continued to liaise with state health authorities about the provision of hospital treatment for the victims of the Bali tragedy. As of today, I can advise the House that a total of 91 Australian and foreign national patients, excluding Indonesian nationals, are being treated in various Australian hospitals. The distribution of these patients is as follows: there are 22 in hospitals in New South Wales, nine in Victoria, 14 in Queensland, five in South Australia, 36 in Western Australia and five in the Northern Territory. The health system is coping with this unexpected and considerable increase in demand for its services, and I think that stands as a tribute to the doctors, nurses and other medical personnel in these various hospitals throughout Australia. In addition to those people, three seriously burnt Indonesian patients were flown to Darwin last Saturday. One of these patients regrettably died soon after being admitted to the Darwin Hospital, and the two other patients were transferred to Perth later that day. I am advised that their condition currently is stable.

I can also advise the House that each of the state and territory health departments is providing a comprehensive range of counselling services for victims of the Bali bombings and their friends and relatives. The Commonwealth will cover any out-of-pocket costs for the treatment of injuries directly attributable to the bombings in Bali. The assistance will cover the difference between the Medicare rebate and the fee charged by the doctor for medical services, the full cost of pharmaceuticals under the PBS, including any copayments that normally would be payable, and the cost of allied health services that are certified by a doctor as necessary and related to the injury. The Commonwealth will be paying for economy air travel for the patient and accompanying family members to travel from hospital to their home town and will also meet the cost of road or rail transport. The Department of Health and Ageing, in collaboration with the Department of Family and Community Services and the state health authorities, has established a mechanism to manage this initiative.

Finally, I inform the House that the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Patterson, is today and tomorrow visiting hospitals in Darwin, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne to meet the victims of the bombings in Bali and their families and, importantly, to thank all those medical staff whose magnificent services have been a wonderful response to this sad occasion.