Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to correspondence from Dr Fergus Whitehead, the chief executive officer of Adelaide Pathology Partners laboratory, on the $7 GP tax. Is Dr Whitehead correct when he says that the imposition of a $7 GP tax will result in added costs for pathology laboratories, given additional staff will be required to collect the tax in collection centres? Can the minister confirm that pathology laboratories will be required to send additional $7 accounts to patients?

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

No, I cannot confirm that statement, because we will not be aware which clinicians will be charging a co-payment until the scheme starts. This government has been very clear in making sure that the Australian people know exactly why the changes to the budget took place. The changes to the budget took place because of the previous government's economic mismanagement. The budget mess that they left us meant that we had to make some tough decisions in the budget. It was under the previous finance minister that we saw net debt treble from $42 billion to $153 billion. Perhaps if the previous finance—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Senator Moore, a point of order.

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

Thank you, Mr President. My point of order, surprisingly, is on direct relevance. The specific question is about the cost of the additional $7 GP tax to pathology laboratories and the requirement to send additional $7 accounts to patients. I would ask you to draw that to the attention of the minister.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. The minister has just over one minute left to answer the question. I draw the minister's attention to the question.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. I answered it directly. I said I could not confirm it. We did not know what the processes would be; therefore, we would not know what the costs would be to the pathology labs. I was very clear. I was also very clear in stating to the chamber exactly why the budget contained tough decisions. It was because—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I will not call Senator Moore until there is silence. Senator Moore, a point of order.

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

Mr President, there were two parts to the question. The second part is about the additional $7 accounts being sent to patients. The minister has not addressed that part of the question at all.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister can address the question, and she has indicated in her previous response to a point of order that she did address the question. The minister can get to the second part of the question in her own time.

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

Thank you, Mr President. And, indeed, I answered it. We will not be able to determine what costs will be passed on until we determine whether or not a co-payment will be charged. It is very clear. I was indicating to the chamber that if it had not been for things like, under the previous finance minister, spending $34 million buying water from Tandou Station, which was supplementary water that actually does not exist except in a flood—it was the previous government's mismanagement that led to a tough budget.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer again to the $7 GP tax and comments by Dr Whitehead, who says, 'The introduction of a co-payment for bulk-billed pathology services, which is the majority of our revenue, may mean the end of our business and the loss of 300 jobs in South Australia.' Will the introduction of a $7 GP tax cut services and cost jobs, Minister?

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

In answer to the question, the fellow is entitled to his views—Dr Whitehead is entitled to his views. We have been very clear: there have been some changes to the budget when it comes to health. There has been a requirement for a co-payment—indeed, supported by the shadow Assistant Treasurer and initially supported by the previous leader of the Labor Party and previous Prime Minister Bob Hawke. So we have been very clear. We have made these decisions because it is this government that is going to ensure a sustainable health system. When we are looking at potentially spending $34 billion on the MBS, this government is the one that recognises that we need to make the responsible decisions to have a sustainable health system.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, given that Adelaide Pathology Partners is also responsible for the majority of cancer diagnoses in South Australia, won't the imposition of a $7 GP tax erode the quality of health care for South Australians as well as threaten 300 South Australian jobs?

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

It would be useful if those opposite did not run to scare campaigns. Indeed, it was the previous Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, and I will just quote—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock. Minister Nash you have the call.

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

I quote from the previous Prime Minister:

Is anyone seriously suggesting that, in the circumstance you're talking about, where there is the possibility of breast cancer, that is going to stop them going to the doctor? I mean, that is emotionalism being played at the lowest level.

That is what we have seen from those opposite. This government has been very clear. The best thing we can do for this nation is ensure a sustainable health system into the future. That is what we are going to do, because it is this government that recognises the responsible decisions have to be made to ensure that sustainable health system.