Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The one thing that Australians know is that you cannot trust the Abbott government. You particularly cannot trust the Abbott government when it comes to health. Before the election, the Abbott government said, 'No cuts to health'. After the election, in the first budget, there were cuts to health. This is a government with a mean and tricky agenda. It really wants to undermine health in Australia, and it believes that you should obtain health care not when you present your Medicare card but when you present your credit card. The Abbott government is a government that believes in a US-style health system—one that we, on this side of the House, are opposed to. We believe that every Australian deserves quality health care. We do not believe that a government should deliver cuts instead of health care.

The member for Charlton is sitting beside me. Our electorates are very close to each other. When the Prime Minister was the health minister, bulk-billing rates went down and down. The member for Charlton tells me that that has happened in Charlton under this government. And it is happening in the Shortland electorate. We, on this side of the House, will fight these health cuts. The people of Western Australia will have a chance to cast their vote against them— (Time expired)