Senator CONROY (Victoria—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:25): Thank you, Mr President. Again, Labor's record of increasing public hospital funding is strong. Over the last five years, Commonwealth funding for public hospital services has significantly increased through the introduction of a generous indexation formula and an increase to base funding for public hospitals of $500 million per annum. The Victorian government are cutting their health budget by $616 million. The federal health funding to Victoria has increased by 26 per cent. Queensland have cut their budget by $3 billion; federal health funding to Queensland has grown 21 per cent. Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Conroy, as much as I enjoy listening to the answer, I cannot hear it because of the interjections on both sides. Senator Abetz: I think you are misleading the Senate. The PRESIDENT: Thank you for your assistance, Senator Abetz. Senator Ronaldson interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Ronaldson. I do appreciate it, but I would like to hear the answer that Senator Conroy is giving and not the interjections that are coming from both sides. Senator Conroy. Senator CONROY: Thank you, Mr President. Those opposite are simply trying to cover for their Liberal state mates. They have been slashing beds, slashing nurses and they want to try and blame someone else. They have been looking after their mates. (Time expired)