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

The shadow minister who asked the question obviously has not been listening to my answers earlier today, because what I said earlier today was that, as a former health minister, I should have known better. I should have known better than to attempt health reform without the strong cooperation and support of the medical profession. I should have known better. What I well and truly learnt in my four years as a health minister was that, if you want to bring about effective health reform in this country, it is best done—in fact, often, it is only done—with the broad support of the medical profession. I accept chastisement, particularly given my experience as health minister, but it is much better to learn than to be obstinate. We have learnt, and that is why we are determined to improve the Medicare system. We are determined to make a great system better, and we are going to do so in the closest possible cooperation with the medical profession and the other great health professions of our country.

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