Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 December 2017:

The availability and accessibility of diagnostic imaging equipment around Australia, with particular reference to:

(a) geographic and other disparities in access to diagnostic imaging equipment;

(b) arrangements for Commonwealth subsidy of diagnostic imaging equipment and services;

(c) out-of-pocket costs for services that are not subsidised by the Commonwealth and the impact of these on patients; and

(d) the respective roles of the Commonwealth, states and other funders in ensuring access to diagnostic imaging services.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government is committed to ensuring affordable access to diagnostic imaging for all Australians. By contrast, every single diagnostic-imaging item was frozen throughout Labor's entire time in government. So while we are concerned about the workload of committees and committee secretariats, we will support this particular reference. At the last election, Labor did not budget for any indexation in diagnostic imaging, nor did this year's budget reply contain any funding for re-indexation. On budget night the coalition expressly re-indexed diagnostic imaging at a cost of nearly $700 million over 10 years. This is in addition to the coalition's commitment to maintain the diagnostic-imaging bulk-billing incentives at a cost of $477 million over the forward estimates. Labor is still refusing to match our re-indexation of CT, mammography, fluoroscopy and interventional procedures.

Question agreed to.