Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (15:08): I really do not know why we bother with question time. Questions are asked of ministers, factual answers are given, and then the questioner completely ignores the answer, makes up some other facts that might suit their political approach, but simply doesn't want to know the truth. I ask the previous speaker, was she one of those that went around the nursing homes before the last election telling people that Medicare was going to be privatised? I ask any of the Labor speakers who might participate in this debate next to answer that question. Were they among those who went around telling people in nursing homes and hospitals that Medicare was going to be privatised? As we all know, that was then, was always and is now the biggest lie going. It's part of the Labor approach these days. Labor have abandoned any real debate on policy issues. All they do is get some of the clever people in the back room to pick a subject and say, 'Let's tell enough lies about that and people will start to believe it.' Senator Watt interjecting— Senator IAN MACDONALD: Senator Watt interjects. Were you one of those, Senator Watt, who went around and told the ultimate lie that Medicare was going to be privatised? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Gallacher ): Senator Macdonald, would you resume your seat? I would like to remind you of standing order 193(3), which says that ' all imputations of improper motives and all personal reflections on those Houses, members or officers shall be considered highly disorderly.' I'd like you to reflect on that with your continued stance in respect to improper activity on the other side of the chamber. Senator IAN MACDONALD: Thanks, Mr Acting Deputy President Gallacher. For a moment, I thought you were going to call Senator Watt to order for continuing to try to bully me and shout me down when I'm speaking. If I've cast an imputation on Senator Watt, it doesn't seem to have worried him, because he has laughed all the way through it. So I ask him again—through you, of course, Mr Acting Deputy President—whether he was one of those who went around and deliberately told the untruth to the Australian public that Medicare was going to be privatised. I thought that Senator Watt readily admitted that he was, that he went around and told what we all know now to be the ultimate lie—one of the biggest I've seen since I've been in politics. Remember that before the last election there were newspaper ads and how-to-vote cards being handed out— Opposition senators interjecting— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Macdonald, you are entitled to be heard in silence. Senator IAN MACDONALD: Senator Watt, have you had your moment of glory now? Senator Wong interjecting— Senator IAN MACDONALD: You seem to think question time is all about Penny and that, if the focus is not on Senator Wong, question time has failed—but, quite clearly, question time does fail because answers are given. The minister stated the facts, which the previous speaker just chose to ignore completely. Funding for aged care is at record levels. In 2017-18 alone aged-care care spending is estimated to reach $18.6 billion. Over the next five years, funding will grow by $5 billion to $23.6 billion. Compare Labor's record, where they would continually cut funding to aged care—and many other things as well, I might say—with this government's record of increases of $5 billion over the next five years. In addition, $1.6 billion has been provided to create an additional 20,000 higher-need home care packages since last December. In excess of $50 million is being provided every year for dementia specific programs. A further $5.3 million has been committed over four years to pilot improvements to care for people living with dementia, with an emphasis on the use of innovative technologies. These are actual facts. These aren't lies. These aren't thought bubbles. These don't come from the Labor Party's campaign promoters about what might appeal to Australian voters. These are actual facts. What Senator Polley has indicated—and no doubt Senator O'Neill will do this shortly— An opposition senator interjecting— Senator IAN MACDONALD: Make up any lie you like. Follow the normal Labor program and make up any lie give any misstatement of fact. They hope that if they say it often enough, the Australian public will believe it. It worked for Medicare. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator IAN MACDONALD: It did work for Medicare, and I guess this is the next Mediscare campaign. They talk about aged people with facts that are not true and hope that some of it sticks for political purposes. (Time expired)