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

The difficulty with the other side is that they always want to create a straw man—they want to build a false premise and then try to cut it down. In this instance, those opposite are not even particularly effective at doing that. What they have now demonstrated is a complete misunderstanding of the whole hospital and health system. This government are ensuring that we are meeting our election commitments, which include the $64 billion health agreement. What those opposite want to do is play politics with the health system. What they do not want to do is support a reduction in elective surgery waiting lists and support money going to state and territory hospitals to increase the health of Australians. Those opposite want to continue to play politics with the issue rather than to support money going to state and territory governments to support the hospital system. Those opposite do not want to—