Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. My advice was that the government had not considered the introduction of a co-payment for Medicare services. Indeed, the coalition believes that all Australians should have access to affordable, high-quality health care. We certainly say that, to assist the government to provide subsidies for clinically necessary treatment and services through Medicare, senators would be well aware that the National Commission of Audit is charged with examining the scope for efficiency and productivity improvements across all areas of Commonwealth expenditure.

This is in direct opposition to those opposite. We have a plan for the future of health delivery in this nation. That plan includes delivering front-line services to where they are needed, and we will absolutely continue to do that. In no way will this side of the chamber, the government, step back from our responsibilities of ensuring that we get the delivery of those front-line services to where they are needed. When we compare that to the record of those opposite on health, it is a stark contrast and shows very clearly that it is this side of the chamber, this coalition government, that has a plan for the future of health in this nation.