Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. I refer to a report in the Daily Telegraph on 11 June by Sue Dunlevy about how taxpayers’ money has been wasted lining the pockets of pharmacists. Given that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is supposed to support families and individuals who need vital medicines and is not intended to be a cash cow for pharmacists, is the government aware of the great drug rip-off which is currently taking place in this country? Can the government reveal how long they have known about this rort, especially given that the government has been looking for areas in which to cut back on costs?