Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
2:54 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the comments of Dr Julie McClellan from Melbourne, in this Australian Doctor petition opposing the GP tax.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
The Prime Minister should come on a nursing home visit and see if he feels comfortable asking the palliative patient or the confused elderly lady rocking in the corner for their $7. Why should the most vulnerable patients be punished by your GP tax?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
As the shadow minister well knows, there is no compulsion on any doctor to charge the co-payment.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Ballarat has asked her question and there will be silence for the answer.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The issue of nursing homes is one that the government is continuing to discuss with the Australian Medical Association, as you would expect. I do make this fundamental point: Bob Hawke introduced a co-payment, Labor's shadow Treasurer supports a co-payment and the member for Jagajaga kind of half supported a co-payment. We think that a modest co-payment makes as much sense for Medicare as it does for the PBS, and that is why this government supports it.
Chris Bowen McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As the shadow Treasurer, I completely reject the Prime Minister's assertion that I support a co-payment.
Andrew Leigh Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer
Madam Speaker, as the shadow Assistant Treasurer—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
You do not have the call and you will resume your seat—which is down there. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer?