Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (18:22): I rise to take note of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency report—when I finish I want to come back to try to reserve for future debate some of those documents that have already passed by, but at the moment I talk to this report, document No. 9. Fortuitously, I was here to hear the previous speaker, Senator McLucas, at last making a comment on health in Cairns. I do not remember Senator McLucas saying anything when some Pacific Island prince spent millions of dollars of health funds under the Labor government— Senator McLucas: He's a criminal! Senator IAN MACDONALD: You are saying he is a criminal now. Where was your comment when Labor was in charge and destroyed the health system of Queensland with waste and mismanagement? Did we hear a peep from Senator McLucas then? Not a word. It is good to see her now taking at least a little interest in what is happening in Cairns. It is rather disturbing to me that a senator would come in here and, under the privilege of coward's castle— Senator Ludwig: And you've never used it! Senator IAN MACDONALD: I say some things about politicians who can come back and respond. Senator McLucas talked about a very distinguished North Queenslander, Mr Bob Norman, who is a well-known philanthropist and educationalist and a significant businessman of the Sir Robert Norman stock. Young Bob, as I call him, has made a significant contribution to Cairns and Far North Queensland—far more of a contribution than Senator McLucas has done or ever will do. For Senator McLucas to use the privilege of this chamber to attack a man who has considerably benefited society, the business community and the social community of Cairns over such a long period— Government senators interjecting— Senator IAN MACDONALD: We have the quota girls up the back. Has someone written those interjections for you, senators? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Crossin ): Senator Macdonald, you need to refer to the two senators in this chamber appropriately. I ask you to withdraw that comment whereby you reflected on those two senators just then. Senator IAN MACDONALD: I withdraw the comment 'quota girls' and I will say to the two senators— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: You need to refer to them by their correct title please, Senator Macdonald. Senator IAN MACDONALD: I withdraw the comment 'quota girls' and I refer to the two senators from Tasmania—is that the correct description?— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Yes, they are senators from Tasmania. Senator IAN MACDONALD: I say to the two senators from Tasmania: has someone written those interjections for you? Because the only time we hear from you is when you have Mr McTernan writing a speech that you get up here and read to this chamber. Madam Acting Deputy President, excuse my anger at this, but I am incensed that Senator McLucas, supported by these two— Senator Polley: Madam Acting Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. I think that Senator Macdonald is reflecting on the character of senators in this place—which is against the standing orders—by trying to assert that speeches have been written by people from other offices. I think it is totally inappropriate and he should withdraw the inference. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Before I call Senator Ronaldson to respond to that point of order, I remind people that we are taking note of documents and we are taking note of the annual report of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency. Senator Ronaldson: Madam Acting Deputy President, on a point of order: clearly Senator Macdonald was not so reflecting. With the greatest of respect, I think that my friend Senator Polley is just being a little precious about this. The comment was withdrawn before, so there is no point of order. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: We are taking note of documents. Senator Macdonald, are you continuing? Senator IAN MACDONALD: I am very keen to talk on the preventive health care document and I reflect on what a great job Lawrence Springborg is doing in Queensland with preventive health, but he is doing it in very difficult circumstances. The previous Labor government ran Queensland into debt of some $95 billion. It is almost up to the extent that the former Labor government ran up the Australian economy. For Senator McLucas to then blame significant Far North Queenslander Mr Bob Norman for the ills of the Labor Party and their complete mismanagement of Queensland Health is just beyond the pale. There have been, of necessity, job cuts right throughout Queensland in health and in other areas. Why? Because the Queensland government simply cannot afford to pay them. No longer can they afford to borrow money as the federal Labor Party government does—they just keep borrowing. Someday there will have to be a reckoning. In the instance of Cairns, most of the jobs that went were, in fact, not frontline jobs. A lot of them were clerical, administrative and advertising jobs that Senator McLucas and her left-wing cohorts in Far North Queensland had been building up for years. I am pleased to say that Mr Norman and the Queensland state government are focusing health in Tropical North Queensland on the issues that really count. I look forward to a continuation of good administration of the Cairns regional hospital, and they will certainly get that with a distinguished Tropical North Queenslander, Mr Bob Norman, administering the health system. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, your time has expired; are you going to seek leave to continue your remarks, or shall we take note of that report? Senator IAN MACDONALD: Well, if nobody else wants to speak on it I will seek leave to continue my remarks later. While I am on my feet, Madam Acting Deputy President, I will not speak on them now but can I reserve by moving to take note of, and continue my remarks on, documents Nos 5, 6, 7 and 8? That would all be by leave, because I understand they have been dealt with, but if I seek leave to— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: We have dealt with document No. 8 already; we have it still already on the Notice Paper. So do you want to go back and keep documents Nos 5, 6 and 7 on the Notice Paper? Senator IAN MACDONALD: Yes, that would be my request, by leave. I will not speak on them now. Leave granted; debate adjourned.