Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for his question. Of course, the government is always concerned about ensuring affordable access to health care for Australians, particularly those who have the least capacity to pay. They range from those people who are on low incomes right through to pensioners. That is why we do have the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and that is why the government will spend something in the order of $7 billion this year to subsidise more than 3,100 products through the PBS, covering around 80 per cent of prescriptions. The PBS is a co-payment and safety net arrangement to help to ensure that subsidised medicines are available for all Australians, and of course the government does provide additional assistance in some areas. In terms of seeking additional information about the particular part of your question— (Time expired)