Senator WEST (2:49 PM) —My question is to Senator Vanstone, representing the Minister for Aged Care. Can the minister confirm that a number of exemptions from the care standards, granted to 19 nursing homes by the Minister for Aged Care late last year, expire today and tomorrow? Why hasn't there been a public statement by the government to clarify the status of these 19 facilities? Don't these facilities potentially face the loss of Commonwealth funding if they are not granted accreditation, which would force their closure? Were any granted a one-year accreditation, which would signal that they still have not met the government's care standards?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —The issue of accreditation for aged care facilities is a complex one. It is an issue in which this government has taken a very strong interest, and it has made some significant improvements. Mrs Bishop has done an excellent job in this respect and is continuing to do so.

Senator Faulkner —Waffle, waffle.

Senator VANSTONE —I note that Senator Faulkner interjects and says, `Waffle,' because he is not interested in anything that this government has to say. He knows full well the shortage of hospital beds before we came to government. He knows how many beds per thousand were available for people in aged care under the previous Labor government, and he knows what this government has done to improve that number. As to the specifics of Senator West's question, I will ask Mrs Bishop whether she has anything to say on that matter and I will get back to her.

Senator WEST —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I would make the comment that these 19 nursing home accreditation exemptions expire today or tomorrow. Was the Ritz, a nursing home run by Ms Millie Phillips and which was exempted from the government's care standards, granted accreditation and, if so, for what period?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —That is almost a repeat of the same question—it just asks for a bit more detail. I spent some considerable time in opposition, and I can assure the opposition that if they want to come in here every day and waste their time by asking about individual nursing homes, on which there may not be a brief provided by the minister, all they are doing is wasting a question, which of course stops some other senator asking a good question which has been knocked off by their questions committee.

If you want the more minute detail with respect to the vast number of homes and facilities that there might be in Australia, the sensible thing to do in opposition would be to ring up and say, `I'd like to ask about a certain nursing home. Can you get me some information about it?' But, of course, if you do not want to do that, it does not worry me.