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
3:11 pm
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
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
Ms Gillard interjecting
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Lalor has asked her question.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
and I think that on this subject he is worth listening to.
David Hawker Speaker
I remind the member for Lalor that she has been warned.