Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the health minister's comments, before question time, when she said of the Prime Minister's GP tax, 'The policy intent was, and remains, a good one.' Does the Prime Minister agree with his latest health minister?

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

I preface the answer to this question by saying that if members opposite were so concerned about my previous answer, why did they not ask the question about the deployment to Iraq?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There will be silence! The member for Isaacs!

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

If members opposite are so concerned about parliamentary propriety, why did they not ask a question about Iraq?

Mr Shorten interjecting—

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

Resume your seat, Leader of the Opposition. Resume your seat! The Prime Minister was asked a specific question by the Leader of the Opposition—not the previous question, but this particular one.

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

If the Leader of the Opposition really wanted statements on Iraq—

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Answer the question.

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

The member for Isaacs is warned!

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

he could have risen in this House to add to the observations that I previously made. Let me return to the question asked. I want to make what the government is intending to do absolutely crystal clear. We are determined to protect and sustain our great Medicare system. We are determined this government will be, as the former Howard government was, the best friend that Medicare has ever had. Part of being the best friend that Medicare has ever had is protecting the vulnerable, including protecting bulk-billing for the vulnerable. And, yes, of course, we are determined to ensure that our Medicare system is as efficient and as effective as possible. Of course we want to ensure that, and the best way to do that is to work collegially with the medical profession. The best way to do this is to secure the backing of the medical profession—people who really care for their patients; people who want to ensure that we have the best possible health services. That is exactly what this government are doing. We are continuing to work with the medical profession about making our Medicare system even better in the future than it is today.