Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

A responsible government, a 21st century government, looks always at innovative ways to improve every element of the government services and to make sure they keep pace with the technologies of today. Every day, all Australians—or most Australians; I am sure all honourable members here—are using their smart phones to transact business online, and yet Medicare has still not kept pace with that, and that is a vital part of the progress and that is what the minister has been examining. That is why the Department of Health is investigating ways, as the minister said today, to digitise its transaction technology for payments to what it describes as a more consumer-friendly format—a modern, contemporary format.

The opposition claim to share our passion for innovation. They claim to be a 21st-century party, but yet, every step of the way, they are obstacles to progress.

Opposition members interjecting—

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