Senator COLBECK (Tasmania—Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians and Minister for Youth and Sport) (14:44): Thanks, Senator Urquhart, for the question. She is right to quote the Prime Minister on the fact that aged care is one of the priorities of the government, because it clearly is one of the priorities of the government, and I've heard the Prime Minister make that comment in quite a few forums. In fact, he addressed our party room on Tuesday to say exactly the same thing. It is one of the key priorities, and we went to the election with that priority. That's why yesterday I was so delighted to announce that the number of home care packages in the market to the end of June last year had grown by 25,000. That's a significant achievement by this government that we had an extra 25,000 home care packages in the market. That's why at the last— The PRESIDENT: Order. Senator Urquhart, on a point of order? Senator Urquhart: It's on relevance. Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Can I hear Senator Urquhart's point of order, please? Senator Urquhart: The question was very simple. It was: how many service providers have been approved? I haven't heard the minister answer the question—as to how many in the last 24 months. The PRESIDENT: Senator Urquhart, you highlighted the end of your question. I do believe the minister was being directly relevant to the preamble to that. He is entitled to do that. You have drawn his attention to part of your question. But I'm listening carefully to the minister, and at this point I find him directly relevant to part of the question. Senator COLBECK: As I was saying, that's why since the budget last year we've injected $2.2 billion into the provision of home care packages. It's interesting to note that, despite the concern expressed by those opposite, at the last election they did not put one single dollar into additional home care packages—not one single dollar— The PRESIDENT: Order. Senator Wong, on a point of order? Senator Wong: Mr President, consistent with your exhortation yesterday to give ministers more time, we have done so. The question is not about policies the opposition might or might not have taken to the election. The question is about the number of new service providers approved by the department in the last 24 months. I would ask that you remind the minister of the question and of the standing orders for him to be directly relevant. The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, Senator Wong is correct in saying opposition policies are not directly relevant to the question. However, the preamble to the question referred to a statement by the Prime Minister that claimed a government commitment to a particular policy. The minister is entitled to address that part of the question. I believe what he's saying right now is directly relevant to the part of the question, albeit observations on opposition policies are not. Senator COLBECK: And so— Senator Wong: Come on, try. You can do it! Senator COLBECK: as I indicated yesterday, there are now 125,000 home care packages in the market, projected to grow to 144,000 by next year; 148,000 by 2021; 153,000 by 2021; and 157,000 by 2022-23. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong? Senator Wong: On a point of order on direct relevance: I'm pleased he's found his brief on home care packages. We've actually asked him about new service providers. The PRESIDENT: And I've said previously, Senator Wong, I believe the minister, in addressing the preamble to the question with this material, is directly relevant to the preamble to the question because the question outlined a claimed government commitment, and he's outlining material he claims demonstrates that. You've highlighted the second part of the question, but the minister can be directly relevant to any part of the question. Senator COLBECK: I think it is quite reasonable that I reinforce the government's commitment to home care packages, as stated by the Prime Minister. And we continue to fund more, with $2.2 billion announced by this government, since the budget last year, for new home care packages. And not a cent— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Urquhart, a supplementary question?