Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. I refer to today’s newspaper column by respected economic commentator Terry McCrann, who states:

... a company listed on the stock exchange ... would have to make a profit for shareholders.

In contrast the entire private health insurance sector is today at least nominally non-profit.

So what does the introduction of a profit-based player in the private health insurance sector mean?

They all switch to profit-making? Or Medibank Privatised can’t compete?

Minister, isn’t Terry McCrann right—won’t the sale of Medibank Private inevitably lead to higher premiums?

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