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

What this government wants to ensure is that we have a policy that is responsive to the needs of the modern health system. In fact, if you look at the argument that is being placed, I would also remind the Senate that, in today’s Age newspaper, the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum said:

I would like to know why the opposition is seeking to support medical specialists who are seeking to retain high incomes at the expense of consumers.

We now have a position where the opposition support a position of ensuring that consumers do not win, that consumers miss out on important reform that this government is progressing with. What we want to ensure is that the community can access ophthalmologists and that ophthalmologists charge appropriately in this respect. What we are not going to support is a position where those opposite— (Time expired)