Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

Why would the Labor Party be so sound in their policy thinking, why would they want to support a sustainable Medicare system in the 1990s but in 2014 the Leader of the Opposition is opportunistic and does not want to support a sustainable Medicare? Obviously it is because of the people that were around at the time. I looked to the then Minister for Health, Brian Howe. He had to say this in 1991 when the Labor Party believed in something and they produced a co-payment to keep any care sustainable. He said:

It was to enact a number of changes designed to ensure that Medicare remains a sustainable, equitable and efficient universal health insurance system.

They were wise words from the then Labor health minister. But where would he have got his advice? I had a look at some of the comments that he had to make and he said at the time:

The measures being introduced in this budget related to the preliminary findings of the National Health Strategy.

The 'National Health Strategy'? I thought: who put that piece of work together? Who put those wise words together? If you have a look at the member for Jagajaga's website, she is happy to skite that:

Prior to entering parliament, Jenny was the director of two major strategic reviews reporting to Brian Howe, including the National Health Strategy.

I thought: let me seek further confirmation.

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