Kym Richardson (Kingston, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the very good Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister outline to the House recent government improvements to Medicare, including new mental health initiatives? Is the minister aware of any alternative policies? What is the government’s response?

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

I do thank the member for Kingston for his question. The GP bulk-billing rate in his electorate has gone up by 15 percentage points since 2003. I do not know about my being a good Health minister, but that is a good result for the people of Kingston, thanks to the policies of the Howard government.

The Howard government does not just talk about Medicare. We take the practical steps needed to make a good system even better. For instance, last year through Medicare the government spent some $200 million on preventive health and treating chronic disease, with 650,000 GP team care plans; 250,000 team care plans; 500,000 allied health consultations; and some 250,000 senior health checks. There is more good news on mental health, thanks to the Howard government, in particular through the good work of the Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, the member for Sturt.

In the first three months of its operation, under the government’s new mental health initiative there were some 93,000 patients benefiting from GP mental health plans. There were almost 80,000 psychologist consultations funded through Medicare. That is an additional $25 million to direct patient mental health services, thanks to the Howard government. It is measures like this which mean that the Howard government is undeniably the best friend that Medicare has ever had.

I was asked about alternative policies. On page 10 of a speech rather pretentiously titled The forgotten solution: primary care as the frontline of prevention, the shadow minister for health said:

I haven’t come here today to unveil all of Labor’s proposals.

In fact, she unveiled none of Labor’s proposals. Labor’s only health policy is to have a single funder or not to have a single funder—to have a single funder, if you believe the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and not to have a single funder, if you believe the shadow minister for health. And I suppose around all of this is the Leader of the Opposition, like some latter-day Hamlet, stroking his chin and saying, ‘To be or not to be; that is the question’—like he is in favour of the US alliance but not in Iraq; like he wants to cut greenhouse gases but not until 2050; and like he wants to be a Christian socialist but not a socialist.

In the absence of any serious health policy, we have to go back to the Leader of the Opposition’s record on health as the de facto Premier of Queensland. What did he do? He closed operating theatres in Brisbane, he cut 2,200 public hospital beds throughout the great state of Queensland and he allowed dental health waiting lists to blow out to three years. Members opposite do not like hearing about Dr Death, but the Courier-Mail of 2 September—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Standing order 64 refers to no member being referred to by name. Standing order 89 refers to offensive words not being used against members of the parliament. Standing order 90—

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

The member will resume his seat. I was listening carefully to the minister and I have not heard him use an offensive word, nor have I heard him refer to a member by other than his title or his electorate. The minister is in order.

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

I am quoting from the Courier-Mail of 2 September 1995, which says:

Mr Rudd—

that is, the Leader of the Opposition—

acknowledged the nickname Dr Death, lovingly bestowed by some Queensland public servants.

He acknowledged the nickname himself. I am quoting from the Courier-Mail.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Perhaps the lying rodent should call him into line.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will withdraw that offensive remark.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I will not.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business is well aware that that expression is unparliamentary and he will withdraw it.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will behave consistently, Mr Speaker.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will withdraw that statement.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw, in accordance with your request. I would ask you to apply the same rules to the member opposite, the Minister for Health and Ageing.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will withdraw without reservation.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

I thank the Manager of Opposition Business.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can we ensure that that ruling is applied to both sides?

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

I will endeavour to uphold the standing orders, as I always do.

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

To quote the Courier-Mail, the Leader of the Opposition:

... acknowledged the nickname Dr Death, lovingly bestowed by some Queensland public servants.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order—

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

The minister is in order.

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

I am quoting his own words from the Courier-Mail.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business, is this a further point of order?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Mr Speaker. I was quoting Senator Brandis. That is who I was quoting.

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

The member will resume his seat and he will not debate his point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Albanese interjecting

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

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that it be withdrawn.

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

The Manager of Opposition Business would be well aware that I read a statement into the House earlier this week on this very issue. The minister is in order.

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

My point is that the Leader of the Opposition revelled in this particular nickname. He is quoted in the article as saying:

You know, it could have been worse. I could have been called Morticia, Rasputin or Pol Pot.

These are nicknames that the Leader of the Opposition used to describe himself. I say this to the Australian people: whether it is Dr Death or Pol Pot, do not trust him with the health system.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pull him up! Pull him up!

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

The member for Grayndler is warned!