Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President. This is the fear-factor opposition, who have peddled fear for the last 11½ years. They are peddling fear about what is going to happen to an ordinary punter who simply wants to get out of this inequitable levy and who wants to save $500-odd a year. And what do this lot over on the other side do? They argue that the public health system will fall apart and that our whole system will be in desperate need. That is so far from the truth. They need to listen to Professor Deeble, who is the father of Medicare in this country. He knows what he is talking about and understands the issues. He shoots down every one of the opposition’s arguments. You have no modelling that backs up your arguments. You are the fear-factor group. You want to push fear on Australians. Thankfully, the Labor Party are in government and we will not govern in fear. We will govern on facts and we will govern on the basis of what is in the interests of ordinary workers and of our health system in this country.

Debate interrupted.