Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. On 3 June in this parliament, the Prime Minister said:

The GP co-payment is a sensible measure from this government to try to make Medicare sustainable for the long term.

But today the president of the AMA said:

…healthcare spending is certainly not out of control and there is absolutely no need for them to introduce a GP co-payment…

Now that the president of the AMA has put the Prime Minister's fabrication to bed, will the Prime Minister now abandoned his GP tax?

Mr Dutton interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call, not the Minister for Health.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am always happy to hear the public comments of the president of the Australian Medical Association, and I certainly note that the Australian Medical Association is quite happy to support a co-payment in principle. I think it is important that all of the comments of the president of the AMA should be made available to this House. The AMA is prepared, in principle, to support a co-payment, as the president made clear in discussions with me some time ago. This government supports a modest co-payment for Medicare, as members opposite did in the days when they were better led than they are now, when they were led by a reforming prime minister. Again, I make the point—as I make all the time in response to questions from the shadow minister—if it is right and proper to have a modest co-payment on the PBS, how can it not also be right and proper to have a modest co-payment on Medicare?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hear interjections stating that it stops people going to the doctor. By the same token, those opposite are stopping people from going to the pharmacist because of their modest co-payment.

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, the interjection from the member opposite just shows how illogical and inconsistent members are.

Ms King interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta has asked her question and will desist.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a government which is prepared to do the tough but necessary things to keep our system sustainable. Nothing is more important to me than our Medicare system. I spent many years in this parliament as the best friend that Medicare has ever had. I want Medicare to be sustainable, and the best way to keep, preserve and strengthen our Medicare system over the medium- and longer term is with a modest co-payment.