Senator RONALDSON (Victoria—Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and Special Minister of State) (14:56): I thank Senator Sterle for his question. I assume that what he is talking about is— Senator Conroy: Is the budget. The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy. Senator RONALDSON: the fact that the freeze on indexation will continue and has been extended. But it does give me the opportunity to talk about— Senator Kim Carr: What about answering the question! Senator RONALDSON: I have answered the question. It gives me the opportunity to talk about veterans' affairs and to talk about what was done in the budget. What I will say is that this budget delivers $12.1 billion for Australia's veterans. And when I hear those on the other side asking questions about veterans— Opposition senators interjecting— Senator RONALDSON: and making comments across the chamber, I will remind you again that the Australian Labor Party did not take a veterans' affairs policy to the last election. Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. It is on direct relevance: we have asked a question and the question was about the dental services for Australian veterans. Could the minister explain that part of the budget to us? The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator. I did hear the minister say, 'I assume that is referring to indexation'. I do not know whether that forms part of the answer or not but I will give the minister the opportunity to continue his answer—one minute and three seconds. Minister. Senator RONALDSON: Thank you, Mr President; I have already answered the question. If you look at the budget paper, you will see it is in relation to an indexation pause for dental and allied health provider fees. As I was saying, the Australian Labor Party did not take a policy to the last election—what we are doing is this $12.1 billion in relation to this portfolio. And I look at what has happened in relation to support for veterans: some $40,650 per veteran, which is an increase. Under the Australian Labor Party, there was a decline of three per cent per— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Senator Moore. Senator Moore: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The direct question— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator Moore: Mr President, if we could get back to the direct question it would be useful. The PRESIDENT: Minister, I remind you of the question. You have 27 seconds in which to answer. Senator RONALDSON: I am not entirely sure what you do not understand about the indexation pause, Senator Sterle. It is in the budget papers, 'there is an extension of the indexation pause'. Read the papers and have a look—not cuts to services, but an indexation pause. As I was saying before about this fantastic budget, Mr President, we are addressing some of those key issues asked for by the veterans community. In particular— (Time expired)