Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing and is about health, so it would be good if he could answer it. I refer the minister to the repeated statements of the Minister for Finance and Administration that the sale of Medibank Private will require changing its status from not-for-profit to for-profit. Is it not the case that the minister’s own department and the health insurance regulatory agency, which falls in his portfolio, will determine this change in status? Minister, exactly what health benefit will arise for Medibank Private members from changing Medibank Private to a for-profit fund?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The health benefits were identified by Mr Mark Fitzgibbon, head of NIB. He said that Medibank Private in private ownership would result in a ‘more competitive private health insurance system and lower premiums’. That is what he said—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Lalor has asked her question.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and I think that on this subject he is worth listening to.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Lalor that she has been warned.