Senator FORSHAW (2:57 PM) —My question is directed to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Family and Community Services and the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Can the minister confirm that it is now three weeks since she admitted on Sunday Sunrise that she did not know whether the $22.5 million required to fund the extension of pharmaceutical benefits had been included in the Department of Health and Aged Care budget? What steps has the minister or the Minister for Health and Aged Care taken to ensure that these funds have actually been appropriated to the Department of Health and Aged Care and are included in the forward estimates? Can the minister give a guarantee that, if the government has overlooked this allocation, it will stand by its promise to extend pharmaceutical benefits to seniors?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I am pleased to see that the senator otherwise known as `Lucky Forshaw' is apparently up and watching Sunday Sunrise. It is a great advertisement for them. You asked me some details about the estimates and pharmaceuticals. I will have to take that question on notice and see what Minister Wooldridge can tell me about that. I will come back to you about that as soon as I possibly can.

Senator FORSHAW —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question of the minister, whose luck and time are both running out. Minister, I draw your attention to page 97 of the budget papers for the department of health, which states:

Can the minister confirm that a provision in the Treasury contingency reserve is not an appropriation and applies for one year only? Further, does this not mean that the seniors promise is funded for one year only and that there is no guarantee for future years?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —If you want to ask a question about the estimates and, in particular, what is in that fund, that should be directed to another minister. But I will take it on notice and get Dr Wooldridge to indicate whatever he thinks is appropriate in response to your question.

Senator Hill —Madam President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.