Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

We have not seen any reduction in the pressure that exists in public hospitals around this country. Senator Abetz can say ‘What?’ as many times as he likes. He has not looked at the figures. I have. For 4½ years I have been speaking in this chamber about how your private health insurance rebate has not reduced the pressure on public hospitals. But if we invested this over $3 billion of public funds each year into our public hospital system that would do it. That would do it, Senator Abetz: that would ensure that we had a quality public health system that all Australians could access regardless of their capacity to pay. But that is not the choice that this government takes.

This government have decided that they want to run down our public health system. They want to take the taxpayers’ funds that it is their responsibility to invest in public services and funnel that to their mates who take out the private health insurance that they have scared people into taking—and they penalise people through the taxation system if they do not take it out. That is the way the system works.

I am proud to say that the Greens believe that this over $3 billion of public funds should be invested in our public health system. The money is there and needs to be invested. We hold the view that it is the responsibility of government to look after all Australians through our public health care system to ensure that they can get access to quality health services. I am proud to stand here representing the Australian Greens and saying, ‘We want to invest in our public health system.’ That is the position of the Australian Greens. That continues to be the position of the Australian Greens. I think this is the fourth time that I have sought to say to the parliament: ‘Let’s take that money that taxpayers have contributed to ensure that they can access quality public health services and let’s invest it in our public health care system.’ I want to make sure that Australians, regardless of their capacity to pay, can access good public health care—

Consideration interrupted and progress reported.