Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

Unlike those opposite, Minister Ley and I have consulted with the aged-care industry to design a response team approach that will deliver support for residents with dementia and operate within the original funding envelope.

Labor promised health reform and failed to deliver. They promised a plan to fix hospitals and failed to deliver. They promised to slash elective surgery waiting lists and failed to deliver. In fact, the COAG Reform Council found that the average national waiting time for elective surgery increased under the Labor-led government. Under those opposite, bureaucracy ballooned while public hospitals, private health insurance, dental and other areas faced cuts.

While those opposite are standing here today crying crocodile tears over health reform they could not deliver, we are getting on with the job of ensuring everyday Australians have access to a 21st century healthcare system that is affordable and sustainable into the future. I hear the member for Blair saying it is not true, but when you read the COAG reports that were tabled and have a look at the reports that were provided by state and territory governments—

Ms King interjecting—

it was evident, Member for Ballarat, that you had failed in your healthcare delivery approach. The 'no blame' healthcare report under the Rudd government also failed to deliver the outcomes that Australians were expecting, and again you are scaremongering. Stop it. You are creating fear.

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