Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Type 2 diabetes is a very serious issue. It is lifestyle related. I am pleased to say that the government has introduced in the budget a new program to tackle it. The government has been steadily improving its support for people with diabetes. We put insulin pump consumables on the National Diabetes Services Scheme a couple of years ago. We put Lantus and Levemir on the PBS late last year. In the recent budget we announced a new prevention program involving a test administered by GPs, a diabetes risk assessment consultation and the potential for referral to a subsidised lifestyle modification program. This will not make diabetes go away, but it is certainly another step in the government’s campaign against it. It is estimated to cost $103 million over the forward estimates period. I simply make the point: the government can only afford to invest this additional money in the health of all Australians because we have a good economy. If you wreck the economy, you wreck health policy as well. What you cannot do is trust members opposite to have the money to continue to support a good policy in this country.

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