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

I find the scaremongering of those opposite regarding Medicare nothing short of embarrassing given the coalition government's record of standing up for a world-class health system with affordable access. I want to remind people of a couple of things. When Dr Neal Blewett introduced the second reading of the bill, he said:

... everyone will contribute towards the nation's health costs according to his or her ability to pay—

with contributions made through the tax system and the Medicare levy of one per cent. He went on to say:

Basic health care should be the right of every Australian.

Further, Making Medicareis a publication that takes up the story of how Labor began developing a proposal for national health insurance against the wishes of many in its party who supported the preventive, community based health system with salaried doctors. It describes the tortuous introduction of Medibank, which finally came into operation and then morphed into the current system.

What is interesting is the pious approach by those on the opposite benches—that they are holier than thou in the way in which they defend Medicare. When we look at the history of the introduction of Medibank and opposition within their ranks, they were not uniform. It seems that the member for Ballarat is so completely at a loss this year when it comes to new ideas that she has fallen back on the age-old Labor policy of extensive and timely fabrication. This is to be expected from a fatigued and boring opposition who wail and fear-monger at alleged health cuts, when their own government sliced $550 million worth of Medicare savings in pathology services and redirected it to what they deemed as 'other government priorities'.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

Member for Lingiari, it does not matter what you say to intervene. Sometimes it is better to have the truth on the table. You cannot play a holier than thou attitude when you make similar cuts.

Mr Snowdon interjecting—

I will be interested to hear your comments. It was the opposition's dear leader himself, the member for Maribyrnong, who claimed:

... if you withdraw funds from Medicare, you will invariably put up the price of healthcare for all Australians.

Tell me, member for Ballarat, how does your government's policy record stand up against this statement? Alternatively, the coalition government has a clear path forward when it comes to health. In the case of pathology, we are removing a feeble and defective incentive of between $1.40 and $3.40, which is paid directly to pathology providers. Pathology companies have, in some cases, complained about the impact our government's changes will make to shareholders—to shareholders, not patients—which demonstrates what is really motivating these organisations.

With Labor's condemnation of this coalition policy, it seems Labor has finally been exposed as the party of big business, rather than the party for each individual Australian, regardless of circumstance. Under this government, we have sent a strong message that Medicare is not a guaranteed bankable revenue where corporations cash in on taxpayer money. As a government, therefore, we are making it clear that not only should every Australian have access to a first-rate service but that the system of health care we promote is one that is sustainable and relevant to consumers in the future.

Australians deserve the Liberal-National government, which sees health care as a priority, not just as a playground for party tricks and policy flips as the Labor opposition does. Australians deserve better than the six years of anxiety and instability that Labor gave them.

Those opposite on occasion seek to preach on MBS indexation. I am flabbergasted that their memory of their own government should be so incredibly poor. I am glad the coalition government is doing much more work in the area of Alzheimer's, given the difficulties it is posing to some of our Labor colleagues. It was Labor who introduced the freeze on MBS indexation when they were in government—and they seem to have forgotten that. It was Labor that froze the indexation of Medicare rebates. It was apparently okay for Labor to freeze the MBS indexation, but those opposite are suddenly outraged that a coalition government would dare to do the same. Hypocrisy, thy name is Labor!

As a government, we are making it clear that not only should every Australian have access to first-rate services but also the system of health care we promote is one that is sustainable into the future. This means, to quote the Labor spokesperson for health herself: 'The opposition would be kidding itself if it didn't recognise there were challenges in the budget and that savings needed to be found.'

Ms King interjecting—

That is fine; that is not a problem. Let me also go on to give some other quotes, just to jog the memory of the member for Ballarat. 'There is no area that is going to be exempt. We have to look across the board,' said Catherine King on 22 February 2015 on Sky News'sAgenda. Let me share a couple of others with you.

… we did think we needed to make savings in pathology. … Now, they didn’t like it, they weren't chanting in the street saying that was terrific, they didn’t like it.

That was Labor's spokesperson, Catherine King, on 6 January 2016.

In government, Labor worked with the medical profession to improve the quality and safety of Medicare, and where savings were realised, they were reinvested back into the health system.

So said Labor health spokesperson Catherine King on 27 September.

Ms King interjecting—

Can I remind the member for Ballarat: it is great that you have selective memory, because your quotes are clearly there for all to see.

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