Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister and it follows his previous answer. Now that he has admitted that he was aware that there will be around 680,000 fewer diagnostic imaging services in 2015-16, did you ask how many diagnoses of cancer would be missed as a result and the health consequences of those missed diagnoses?

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

I simply repeat the answer which I have given to the same question that was asked by the Leader of the Opposition. The advice we had was that there would be a one per cent reduction in the usage. When Bob Hawke, the well-loved and well-respected leader of the Labor Party, was asked a similar question, he said:

… that is emotionalism being played at the lowest level.

I say to the member who asked the question—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order? The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.