Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

If I have transgressed, then I withdraw and I apologise. But the only political party that has actually introduced a co-payment in this country is, in fact, the Labor Party. They introduced a co-payment because they wanted to make Medicare sustainable. That is why they introduced a co-payment; that is why the Labor's Assistant Treasurer says, 'But there is a better way of operating a health system.' Let me repeat that:

But there is a better way of operating a health system and the change should hardly hurt at all. … the ideal model involves a small co-payment—not enough to put a dent in your weekly budget, but enough to make you think twice before you call the doc.

This hardly radical idea—this idea which is enshrined in precedent from the Hawke Labor government—is something that this government does support. I say to members opposite: if it is right and proper to have a modest co-payment on the PBS, how can it be wrong and improper to have a modest co-payment on Medicare? I say again: this government is determined to put the budget on a sound footing; this government is determined to put the economy on a sound footing; and, yes, this government is determined to put Medicare on a sound footing. And we will.

See this speech in context