Senator NASH (New South Wales—Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Health) (14:17): The Australian government is committed to improving health outcomes for people living in rural and remote areas through the implementation of the fund. Every dollar invested in health and medical research returns, on average, $2.17 back into the health system. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report Cancer in Australia: in brief 2012 states that in the five years from 2006 to 2010 people living in the lower socioeconomic areas had higher mortality rates from cervical cancer, lung cancer and cancer of unknown primary site than those living in the highest socioeconomic areas. The development of new medicines will lead to increasing life expectancy and quality of life for rural and regional patients. The new Medical Research Future Fund is investing in our future and is one of the best long-term investments in health we can make. The Medical Research Future Fund will enable the government to work towards closing the gap between the cities and rural and regional Australia.