Rowan Ramsey (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Would the minister inform the House how the government is making Medicare sustainable? Importantly, Minister, could you inform us of any other examples of co-payments on health services around Australia?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Grey for his question and his great interest in health matters, particularly in regional areas in South Australia. We have announced in the budget a modest co-payment of $7 because we want to make Medicare sustainable with an ageing population and all the costs of medical technologies. We have been lectured by Labor that this is an unfair measure, that it is unfathomable that you would charge $7 as a co-payment, bearing in mind that four out of five services, where people turn up to a GP at the moment, are given for free.

I have not looked at Labor's words; I have looked at their deeds. We know that when Labor were in government, they introduced a co-payment, not just on the PBS but on the MBS as well. And I have looked at two other jurisdictions where the Labor Party is in government.

I looked at South Australia, because they were lecturing as well about this $7 co-payment, and I came across this document which talks about co-payments for adult public dental care. I thought that surely the Labor Party could not be charging a co-payment for health services in their public hospitals after they have been lecturing the Commonwealth about a $7 co-payment. Surely, their co-payment must be less—$3 or $4, surely, if they are so sanctimonious about $7.

Ms King interjecting—

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

The member for Ballarat will desist.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I went to the fee schedule. If you are in South Australia—and this is not just for all South Australians, but a concession card holder on low income—what does the Labor Party say to that person if they need emergency dental care? The co-payment is $55—not $3 or $4 or $7, but $55. This is a sanctimonious and hypocritical lot over there lecturing us about economic management and surpluses, none of which they ever delivered on, and now it turns out that Labor is charging $55. But if you are a concession card holder in South Australia on a very low income, it does not stop there. If you need dental services, there is no $3 or $4 co-payment for a dental service. If you need a general dental service, it is $155.

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

Madam Speaker, on a point of order, perhaps if you would like to be relevant you would mention the $450 million—

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

The member will resume her seat. The member for Ballarat will remove herself from the House under 94(a).

The member for Ballarat then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I can probably finish on that note.

Government members interjecting—