Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Is the Minister for Health considering means testing of bulk-billed GP visits?

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

The senator would be aware that this particular issue falls within the purview of the senior minister, Minister Dutton. The senator has directly asked me if I was considering it. So no, I was not.

I say to the senator that, when it comes to health, it is this side of the chamber, this government, that is going to deliver. Insofar as I can add to my earlier comments, I will seek advice from the senior minister. But I think it is important for those opposite to recognise that—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on relevance. For the Minister representing the Minister for Health, the question is the consideration of the means-testing of bulk-billed GP visits. Can the minister have that drawn to her attention?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister still has one minute 15 seconds remaining to address the question. I am listening closely to the minister's answer.

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

I did indeed answer the question. The senator asked me if I had considered—I answered directly that I had not—and I indicated to the chamber that insofar as I could provide further information—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, again, my point of order relates to relevance. The specific question to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash, is: is the Minister for Health—not you—considering means testing of bulk-billed GP visits?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order at this stage. The minister still has 59 seconds remaining to address the question.

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

I have indicated to the chamber, insofar as I will seek further information to provide as necessary. What I will also indicate to the chamber is that it was the previous Labor government that cut $1.6 billion from our hospitals. The senator asks questions in relation to health. I think it is very, very important that those out there in the community recognise the very real difference between what the coalition government will do when it comes to health and what the now opposition did as the previous government.

It is this coalition government which will deliver health services. It will deliver health services to the front line as needed, as compared to what we saw under the previous, chaotic Labor government.

Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a supplementary question, Mr President. Will the minister rule out means-testing of bulk-billed GP visits?

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

Senators opposite would be well aware that the Commission of Audit was established to conduct a review of the scope, efficiency and functions of government. That will inform government in terms of future policy direction. This government makes no apology for appropriate, sensible and measured policy development. We will do that in relation to health, and we will do that to ensure that we get the delivery of services to the front line where it is necessary, in complete contrast to what the previous Labor government did.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lines.

Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Mr President, I was watching the clock. I was waiting for an answer that never came.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, Senator Lines. You just need to ask a question; it is not the time for a comment.

Government senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT: Order: on my right! Senator Lines, you will get the call when there is silence on my right.

Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Why is the government hiding the details of its plans to means-test GP visits until after the Western Australian Senate election?

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

Senators opposite well know that the Commission of Audit report will be considered by this government. When the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong, was asked recently about the Henry tax review, which took six months for the government to make any commentary on, indeed the senator indicated that it had been considered for that period of time. So this government makes absolutely no apology for the appropriate, sensible and measured policy development that this country—

Senator Wong interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nash, resume your seat. I need to hear your response. Senator Nash, continue.

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

This government makes absolutely no apology for developing sensible, measured, well-thought-through policy when it comes to health and indeed all areas of government, in stark contrast to the ill-thought-through policy on the run that we saw from the previous Labor government.