Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

That is exactly what they did in the 2013 budget! If the Leader of the Opposition did not think that he was living in the future rather than the past, he would remember what happened in the 2013 budget. Let me just remind members opposite that this year's budget increases overall health spending by $2.3 billion—that is what we do.

Opposition members interjecting—

Yes, we do pause some indexation. But when the then health minister, now the deputy leader of the opposition, was asked about freezes to rebates, she said: 'They earn enough money to bear the federal government's freeze on rebates.' That is what she said.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Now she is trying to say, 'Oh, well, this was only for one year.' Okay. Madam Speaker, she has given the game away. As usual, they come in here full of indignation, they come in here full of bombast, but when you probe behind the question it turns out they have done exactly the same thing themselves.

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