Senator SMITH (Western Australia) (16:19): For those who are listening to this debate in the gallery and elsewhere, let me just summarise what has happened in the last 45 minutes. So confident were the Labor Party, the Labor opposition, in their performance at question time today that, for the last 45 minutes, they have been talking about issues that were not the substance of their question time contribution. What does this mean? We now have half the time available to us to discuss the issues raised at question time. What does this demonstrate? It demonstrates that Labor do not even trust their own performance in question time. Senator Polley said something very important. She said that leadership was required to steer the ship back on course. What ship are we talking about? We are talking about the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement. There is no-one doubt that, as a consequence of the ageing population, more of our older Australians will unfortunately suffer from dementia. A smaller group of them, just as unfortunately, will suffer from severe behaviour difficulties. We know that, with age, the prevalence of dementia rises from one in 10 when you are aged 65 years and over to three in 10 when you are aged 85 years and over. So let us just get to the nub of the problem. The Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement was the NBN of the aged care system under Labor. It was poorly designed and badly implemented. Its costs were exaggerated because Labor designed it badly. How badly did you design it? How badly could Labor have designed it? What was the depth of your poor design? Let us think about this. Originally, the program was designed to support the care of 2,000 residents with severe behaviours; at last count, it was supporting 29,000 residents. You designed a system that would cost the taxpayer $110 million over those 11 months. Now those costs are extreme, because you designed a very bad system. It must be embarrassing to find yourself in opposition now, having to curry favour with people and hide from your poor— Senator Polley interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! There is too much interjecting happening. Senator SMITH: Hide from your poor design. What would the future have looked like if the very responsible minister did not take any action? What would the future have looked like, Senator Polley? Let me tell you. Had it continued— Senator Polley interjecting— Senator SMITH: Senator Polley, apologies: I cannot understand a word you are saying. Let me speak. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Smith, you are quite correct. You have the call, and I call the chamber to order. There has been enough interjecting in this contribution. I would like Senator Smith to be heard in silence. Senator SMITH: Thank you, Mr Deputy President. I will change my tone slightly. If corrective action had not been taken by the new government and the new minister, and the dementia and severe behaviour supplement been allowed to continue, the payment would have cost $780 million over four years, rather than the $52 million that had been budgeted under Labor, and more than $1.5 billion over 10 years. Let us be clear, the coalition believes that people with dementia and severe behaviour issues need to be supported. We disagree with the way that you did it. It was irresponsible from a policy perspective and irresponsible from a budget perspective. I have a challenge for Labor. Let us assume for one second that the supplement should stay. How does Labor propose to meet the financial cost of $780 million? Senator Bilyk interjecting— Senator SMITH: Senator Bilyk, which programs would you like to see end? Senator Polley interjecting— Senator SMITH: Senator Polley, which programs would you like to see end? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Smith, I will ask you not to direct your comments at senators, because it does not assist the chamber. I would ask you to direct your comments through the chair. Senator SMITH: Through you, Mr Deputy President, the challenge for the Labor opposition is to identify what programs and policies they would end if they were to support the supplement in its current form. (Time expired) The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Bilyk, I forewarn you that this debate will close at 4.30.