We know that so many of the conditions and diseases that we associate with ageing can often be prevented or in fact their onset delayed if we just took preventative steps earlier in our lives.

I call on the Australian Government to set out the conditions upon which they will provide a taxpayer funded backing for wholesale term funding for Australian deposit taking institutions. I call on the Government it make clear the conditions upon which taxpayer funds will be used in this way.

Greater public recognition will also be critical in encouraging prevention and early intervention, and more generally in building public support to meet the challenges of dementia.

Australia is already a world leader in dementia research, treatment and care.

And I believe that the best buy in public health today must be a combination of regular physical exercise and a healthy diet.

The Gillard government must give up its addiction to wasteful spending borrowing and taxing.

It is a fact that governments tend to put in place policies and strategies in response to current scenarios.