Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Why do we know this? Because, as Mr Dutton said, 'Past performance is the best indicator of future practice.' Let's have a look at Mr Dutton's past performance. In 2013 the Liberals promised no cuts to health, and then Mr Dutton cut $50 billion from hospitals. Just months later, as health minister, Mr Dutton tried to introduce a GP tax on every single Australian patient, and, when he couldn't get it through parliament, what did he do? He started a six-year freeze of Medicare rebates—the Dutton Medicare rebate freeze. No wonder doctors voted him the worst health minister in the history of Medicare.

Senator Ruston confirmed, 'We have never said that Australians will get access to free GP services.' She let the cat out of the bag. Mr Dutton and the Liberals can't be trusted with Medicare. (Time expired)