Senator SCHACHT (2:53 PM) —My question is addressed to Senator Ellison representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Can the minister give details of why the Department of Veterans' Affairs was dissatisfied with the quality of care provided to veterans by the Department of Health and Aged Care under the home care program, which has now led to home care for veterans being transferred from the Department of Health and Aged Care to the Department of Veterans' Affairs? Further, can the minister explain how the Department of Veterans' Affairs can provide an improved home care service to veterans, when the Department of Veterans' Affairs is required to provide savings of $57 million over four years in providing this home care service?

Senator ELLISON (Special Minister of State) —Through the Veterans' Home Care program, the department will now provide a wide range of home care services to the veteran community on similar terms to those currently provided under the Home and Community Care program. This in no way has anything to do with the ability of the department of health to administer that program. This is a great initiative; it is a great expansion of services to veterans. Senator Schacht is trying to beat up this issue and trying to say that it is dissatisfaction with the department of health when, in fact, it is a great initiative; it is an expansion of services to veterans in this country. Such things as home help, personal care, garden maintenance and other services will be available to veterans who are assessed as needing such services to enable them to live independently. This new program will commence from 1 January this year. It will offer targeted support aimed at improving and maintaining the health and wellbeing of veterans. Who better to deliver this to the veterans of Australia than the Department of Veterans' Affairs? What we are doing is expanding what is available to those veterans. This is good news for veterans in Australia.

Senator SCHACHT —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. First of all, Minister, I think you are reading the wrong program; you are reading about the extension of the program. But I ask you, Minister—and you may have to take this on notice to get it checked—is it true that the savings of $57 million will be achieved by reducing the number of bed days presently used by veterans? Therefore, Minister, can you inform the Senate of how many bed days will have to be saved and how many veterans will not be admitted to hospital to achieve the savings of $57 million required by the government?

Senator ELLISON (Special Minister of State) —Senator Schacht is really struggling with this. We have announced great initiatives for veterans in this budget, including Vietnam veterans. Senator Schacht knows full well that we are increasing expenditure for veterans in this budget, and his scare tactics will not confuse or fool them. They will know that this is a good budget for veterans.