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

I think it is very important that we look at the facts. You cannot look at the fact that Medicare expenditure 10 years ago was $8 billion, and it has increased to $19 billion today, as anything other than a significant increase. You cannot look at the fact that over the next 10 years the MBS expenditure will increase to $34 billion. That is unsustainable. The taxpayers of this nation deserve better than what we saw from the previous Labor government, which did not in any way, shape or form address the future sustainability of our health system. We will consider the report from the Senate committee in due course, but we are absolutely determined to ensure that Australia has a health service that is sustainable into the future.