Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank those senators who made a contribution to the debate up to this point. I think there is a potential for other senators, who may want to make a contribution, to do so but I cannot predict that, I suppose. I remind the chamber and those who are listening of the very sensible comments that Senator Fielding made on Monday, 13 October last year. I quote from the ABC News website:

Senator Fielding says the seriousness of the global economic problems means he has reversed his opposition to the Medicare levy changes and the alcopops tax increase, despite him still having concerns about the legislation.

“There’s still about $3 billion worth of Budget that is exposed to the Parliament, and Family First is making it quite clear today that we’ll support the Government’s remaining tax Budget bills to bring about that stability,” Senator Fielding said.

“It’s important that Parliament do all it possibly can to bring that stability.”

As I said earlier, Senator Fielding was absolutely right when he made that statement. It is about having the available funds to provide the preventative health services and strategies wanted by Senator Fielding and those who I think have the interests of the health of this country at heart.