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

This government has been very clear in making sure that our position is known: vulnerable people will be protected. I am sure the Greens senator knows, as a former GP himself, that GPs act at their own discretion as to how they make their charging arrangements. In terms of the arrangements that we have put in place, we have indicated that vulnerable people will be protected. We have listened to the concerns out in the community, and those vulnerable people—concession card holders and those under 16—will be absolutely protected. It is important that we get this right. Unlike the previous Labor government—who made a complete mess of the economy and who did not have any kind of plan for making health care sustainable in this nation—this government does and we will proceed to do that.