House debates Questions without Notice
Medibank Private
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House
3:00 pm
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing
Mr Pyne interjecting
Julia Gillard Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Thank you, Mr Speaker. You never know, we might get an answer. Has the minister seen a media release issued today by the Australian Medical Association about its submission to the ACCC on the sale of Medibank Private? Is the minister aware the media release is entitled ‘Medibank Private sale will drive up premiums’ and states:
The AMA, while not wishing to comment on the legality of the situation, doubts the morality of the sale …
Minister, is the AMA right?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
I have a lot of respect for the AMA, but I respectfully disagree with them on this issue.