Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to indicate the Labor opposition's support of the Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Bill 2014. This measure was introduced in the 2013-14 budget. It is a sensible measure and it is a Labor measure. I quote from the bill's explanatory memorandum:

This supports the overall sustainability of MBS arrangements by reducing expenditure.

It compares with measures contained in the cruel 2014-15 budget which are, in fact, blunt instruments not aimed at sustainability. The 2014-15 budget measures are driven by an ideology that does not value Medicare. Australians value Medicare, Labor designed Medicare and we will defend Medicare. I indicate support for the bill.