Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my right!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Pyne interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sturt is warned!

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. You never know, we might get an answer. Has the minister seen a media release issued today by the Australian Medical Association about its submission to the ACCC on the sale of Medibank Private? Is the minister aware the media release is entitled ‘Medibank Private sale will drive up premiums’ and states:

The AMA, while not wishing to comment on the legality of the situation, doubts the morality of the sale …

Minister, is the AMA right?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a lot of respect for the AMA, but I respectfully disagree with them on this issue.