Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Isn't it the case that, as the Prime Minister gives in to his backbench on policy after policy, the only option that the Prime Minister has left is more extreme cuts, like the Medicare cuts in the Abbott government's 2014 budget? Will the Prime Minister today rule out cutting dental care for millions of Australian children?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The commitment of the government and of our health minister—

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She wants to cut it.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney is warned!

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

who, as we know, is at the Pharmacy Guild today—to the health of all Australians is recognised across the country. Every year we spend more and more on health. Every year we work hard to ensure that we can get a better outcome for our health dollar, whether it be—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Sydney continues to interject. I warned her not more than 30 seconds ago. If she continues to interject, she will be ejected from the chamber under 94(a). I want to make it clear. You do not have a right to ask a question and then continually interject through the answer. The Prime Minister has the call.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As honourable members are aware, tackling dental health issues early is absolutely vital. It alleviates more significant problems and expenses later in life. As honourable members are also aware, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule is nowhere near meeting its target, with only around 30 per cent of eligible children accessing the scheme—yet another example of Labor overpromising and underdelivering.

We are working on dental reform. As part of that, it is only natural that the government consider the effectiveness of current programs. Every program's effectiveness has to be examined regularly. We have a responsibility to ensure that every dollar we invest in dental services delivers the best health outcomes possible. We want to ensure that funding is targeted to where it is needed most.

Honourable members should recall that the previous Labor government locked in funding for the dental NPA at the relevant levels of $69 million in 2012-13, $155 million in 2013-14 and $119 million in 2014-15. As we announced in the 2015 budget, the government extended the NPA for 12 months at the highest level of that NPA. In 2015-16 the government committed to $155 million. So we have extended the dental NPA for a year while we consider options to reform public dental care. We are committed to good dental health and good dental care, but we have to ensure that we are getting the most effective outcomes for the taxpayer dollar.

Honourable members should not, in their efforts to raise health issues here, abandon fiscal responsibility. They should recognise that our objective is to ensure that we have strong health outcomes funded in the most effective way so we can get the best outcomes for the taxpayer dollar.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Except for kids.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. The member for Sydney will leave under 94(a). She completely ignored me. The only reason I did not do this midway through the answer is that I did not want to interrupt. The member for Sydney will leave immediately. There are many members who I ask to cease interjecting and they listen and they cease interjecting. All members are equal in this House. I will not have any member ignore rulings that I make.

The member for Sydney then left the chamber.