Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

I am delighted to address this topic. Let me begin with Labor's abysmal health record. Labor left the health system in poor health. I will also deal with the irresponsible claims that those opposite make, in defiance of the best medical advice provided to the government not only by the experts within government but also by those outside. I will also inform the House about what we have delivered not just since the election but even in recent weeks, including progress on medicinal cannabis, which Labor never delivered; progress on Kalydeco, which Labor—

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

No, you never did it on your watch, in your time. You failed. You were absent, and we delivered it. There is also what we have done with the NHMRC. We also have the highest half-year rates for bulk-billing on record—higher than any year under Labor—and the lowest private health insurance changes in a decade.

But let me run through Labor's record, just to put all of this in context. Labor hate private health insurance. They ripped $4 billion out of private health insurance. They ripped $4 billion out of private health insurance and they did it on the back of a grand deception. Here is what the member for Gellibrand said before they went into government:

... Labor has made it crystal clear that we are committed to retaining all of the existing Private Health Insurance rebates …

And what happened during their period in government? It was summed up very neatly by the member for Sydney after their period in government. She said:

How did I pay for it? I paid for it by targeting private health insurance.

A complete fraud.

They cut $2½ million from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and medicines and pharmacy, and they put seven major drugs approved by the PBAC on delay. They put those drugs on delay. That included drugs for schizophrenia and drugs for pulmonary condition. That is a disgrace and something that we will not be doing on our watch. The PBAC passed drugs that were fundamental and lifesaving and Labor put those on delay. They did it; we will not.

Honourable members interjecting—

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