Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

You hear the fraudsters and the rorters making a lot of noise. It is very important that not only do we shut down the rorts and the fraud that Labor is supporting but we allow the Australian people to include emergency health information on this card so that if you are involved in a traffic accident or a medical emergency then information about allergies or about your health background or blood type or a range of other information can be quickly accessed by health professionals. Senator Stott Despoja last week had the audacity and the stupidity to come out and say that we would not provide people with health and emergency services if they did not put that information on the card. Can I reassure the people of Australia that this is a positive that will benefit people. It will mean that they can have quick access to Medicare and other services but also in an emergency this will be a very successful way to ensure that people get the best medical treatment possible but entirely voluntarily. It is their choice; it is their card. If they choose to put the information there, it could help save a life; if they don’t, then it is their choice.