Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Not quite. It is complex, but we will continue. We could go round in circles on this. The pharmaceutical corporations have immense power and they have had hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money going towards paying higher prices in Australia than in the UK because of that power. Legislation could prevent that, but I admit we are over a barrel with the big pharmaceutical corporations. It is a very difficult matter and it always has been. I think it is very important to recognise that they have a huge say on how this system will work and how advice will go forward to the minister. I go back to the reference pricing system. That is complex in itself, but that is our safeguard. Are you, Senator Mason, and the government giving an assurance that this bill will have no impact on the reference pricing system?