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

I am always happy to hear the public comments of the president of the Australian Medical Association, and I certainly note that the Australian Medical Association is quite happy to support a co-payment in principle. I think it is important that all of the comments of the president of the AMA should be made available to this House. The AMA is prepared, in principle, to support a co-payment, as the president made clear in discussions with me some time ago. This government supports a modest co-payment for Medicare, as members opposite did in the days when they were better led than they are now, when they were led by a reforming prime minister. Again, I make the point—as I make all the time in response to questions from the shadow minister—if it is right and proper to have a modest co-payment on the PBS, how can it not also be right and proper to have a modest co-payment on Medicare?

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