Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The head of the AMA, Brian Owler, said this afternoon that the Prime Minister had told Dr Owler that the Prime Minister was willing to look at alternative models and consider those on their merits when it comes to the GP tax. Has the Prime Minister finally given up on his GP tax and realised that no-one in Australia except the Prime Minister wants his rotten GP tax?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has the call, and he will ignore the adjective for the final noun.

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

Unlike members opposite, who never consulted with anyone when they were in government, this is a consultative and collegial government.

Ms King interjecting—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat and the member for Sydney will desist! And so will the member for Gorton!

Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Kowtowing to a union, Tony!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned!

Opposition members interjecting—

The Prime Minister has the call and will have silence to have his answer heard.

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

I made it absolutely crystal clear that this government is committed to a modest price signal for GP services. I say to members opposite: if it is right and fair and proper to have a modest co-payment for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, how can it be wrong to have a modest co-payment for Medicare? If it was right for Bob Hawke to introduce a modest co-payment for Medicare, if it was right for the member for Jagajaga to support a modest co-payment for Medicare and if it is right for the member for Fraser to support a modest co-payment for Medicare, why is it wrong to have a modest co-payment?

Andrew Leigh (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order under standing order 68. The Prime Minister may have changed his view on climate change, parental leave and co-payments, but he cannot traduce where I am standing now.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The Prime Minister has the call.

Honourable members interjecting—

There will be silence on both sides of the chamber!

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

I know that the Labor shadow Assistant Treasurer over there knows that something has to be done to make Medicare sustainable. He knows that a modest co-payment is a perfectly reasonable way—

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. Is the Prime Minister still flogging his GP tax or is it dead?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

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

Bob Hawke knew that the Medicare system was unsustainable, the member for Jagajaga knew that the Medicare system was unsustainable, the member for Fraser knows that the Medicare system is unsustainable, without a modest co-payment. The AMA knows that a modest copayment would improve our Medicare system, and that is why I am perfectly happy to work with the AMA to ensure that Australia has the best possible Medicare system.