House debates Questions without Notice

Health Care

Thursday, 23 October 2014 House of Representatives

Ms Catherine King

Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health

2:20 pm

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday during question time the Prime Minister said:

The propositions that are being put by members opposite are simply false. They are simply false.

How is the Prime Minister's information different to that of the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association, which says that general patients could pay up to $2,207 in up-front costs to have liver metastasis diagnosed? Does the Prime Minister not understand the pain that his unfair and chaotic budget is inflicting on Australians, or does he just not care?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker

The Prime Minister has the call and will ignore the last part of the question, as it is argument and out of order.

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

2:21 pm

As the member who asked the question would well know, in the end what people are charged is a matter for the doctors. That is a matter for the doctors.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker

There will be silence while the question is answered!

Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

But the same support will be in place for doctors who charge a $7 co-payment as is currently in place for those who bulk-bill patients.