Mr MURPHY (3:04 PM) —My question is to Minister for Ageing, representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, are you able to advise the House of the detail of the agreement put in place by Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers in July of this year to produce a national response to major incidents involving burns? In light of the Bali terrorist attack and the ever present danger of bushfires, can the minister indicate whether the implementation of the plan will now be made a priority?

Mr ANDREWS (Minister for Ageing) —I thank the honourable member for Lowe for his question. As he indicated in his question, at the July meeting of the Australian Health Ministers Council it was agreed by the respective Commonwealth, state and territory ministers that a working party would be formed to produce a coordinated response plan for Australia in the event of a major incident that overwhelms the resources of burns management services. Indeed, the carriage for the establishment and the ongoing work of this working group was given to Western Australia and to the Department of Health in that state. I am informed that this work, under the carriage of Western Australia, is currently in its preliminary stages. I can indicate to the honourable member and to the House generally that, if the matter is not raised again at the next meeting of the Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers in terms of the items on the agenda, the Commonwealth will ensure that it is on the agenda.

While I believe that all members would hope and pray that we would never require such extensive medical services again, particularly those involving the burns units, we will naturally use the response right around Australia to this tragedy to ensure that services are in a state of appropriate readiness in the future, and to learn from this. I emphasise again, as I did in answer to an earlier question, that I think all members and senators acknowledge the magnificent work which has been undertaken, particularly by the burns units in the various hospitals right throughout Australia.