Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

In the absence of a phone call from Senator Urquhart to Dr Leigh, where he might wish to advise her of his views on this matter, let me reassure the chamber that the government is absolutely committed to improving immunisation coverage rates. This government provides around $400 million annually through the National Immunisation Program. We continue to supply the National Immunisation Program vaccines free of charge to eligible cohorts in line with the NIP schedule. NIP vaccines are provided by a variety of immunisation providers, including GPs, local councils, community based clinics and through schools. It remains, as I said, at the discretion of the doctor whether the $7 patient contribution applies; but what is worth noting is that, in 2012, in a savings measure, the Labor government abolished the General Practice Immunisation Incentive, as well as the maternity immunisation incentive. We all know it was a savings measure.