Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

The greatest Labor Prime Minister in Australian history, Bob Hawke, championed a co-contribution for Medicare. Let us never forget that. The Labor Party's shadow assistant treasurer, Dr Andrew Leigh, in one of his more lucid and honest moments when he was writing his book, acknowledged the importance of having a co-contribution for visits to GPs. We know that the co-contribution is something that the responsible people in the Labor Party know needs to occur, but they are too scared to tell the Australian people the truth. That is why former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, to his credit, said we need this. That is why in opposition Dr Andrew Leigh, the shadow assistant treasurer for the Labor Party, has said the same thing. (Time expired)