Mr LATHAM (2:00 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware of research from the University of Adelaide and the federal Department of Health and Ageing showing that, during the term of his government, the number of decayed teeth among adult public dental patients has increased by more than 30 per cent and the number of missing teeth has also increased? Prime Minister, with more than 500,000 Australians, most of them elderly, waiting to get their teeth fixed up, don't these figures confirm the need for a national dental program? Why has the government spent nearly $700 million on advertising campaigns when just half of this amount could have funded the dental care of our senior citizens?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —I have not seen that particular research, but I will accept that it says what the Leader of the Opposition asserts. I have been asked this before, and I share the concern of the Leader of the Opposition. But I have to ask the question: what on earth are the states doing with all that GST revenue?

The SPEAKER —Order! Member for Lalor, the Prime Minister has the call.

The SPEAKER —The member for Lalor is defying the chair!

Mr HOWARD —For years and years, state governments of both political persuasions begged a federal government to give them a growth tax. Richard Court did it, Jeff Kennett did it, Neville Wran did it, Bob Carr did it and Peter Beattie has done it. Now, finally, they get a growth tax, and what do they do? They avoid their own constitutional responsibilities. We hear a lot in this country about rights and responsibilities. It is the responsibility of the states.

The SPEAKER —Member for Bass!

The SPEAKER —The member for Bass chooses to defy the chair!

Mr HOWARD —They have to discharge their responsibilities as well as assert their rights. They cannot have it both ways. They cannot wax fat on the proceeds of the GST yet run away from their responsibilities in dental health to their own citizens.