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

I thank Senator Moore for her second supplementary question. The biggest risk to Australia's health system and patient care is the Liberal Party. Those opposite are led by a person who cut $1 billion out of the Australian health and hospital network. Not only did he cut from our health-care system but he has finally given to the Australian people an indication of his plans for the health and hospital system. It is remarkable for a Leader of the Opposition who rarely outlines his policies, but he has in this case. He has promised to do it all over again. Last week Mr Abbott told the AMA, 'If that is what I was like as a health minister you can be reasonably confident that that is what I will do as Prime Minister.'

So now we know what it would be like under the Abbott government: a $1 billion cut to hospitals, capping GP training places, no action on nursing shortages, no health reform and no investment in elective surgery or emergency departments. (Time expired)