House debates Questions without Notice
Health Care
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:08 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister genuinely believes that taxing the sick and the vulnerable every time they go to the doctor is in Australia's long-term national interest, will the Prime Minister take his unfair GP tax to the next election?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:09 pm
I know the Leader of the Opposition is doing a fine line in indignation, but if he is so indignant about the proposal for a Medicare co-payment, a proposal that his onetime mentor—
Mr Champion interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
former Prime Minister Bob Hawke actually put in place—if he is so indignant about a Medicare co-payment—when is he going to remove the PBS co-payment? All of the arguments that the Leader of the Opposition is making against the co-payment apply with equal force to the PBS co-payment—so, yet again, more budget vandalism from the Leader of the Opposition. He is not content with opposing everything that this government is putting forward. Now he is suggesting to the Australian people that, if he gets elected, the PBS co-payment will go. Isn't that what he is—
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order. It just goes to relevance. I asked the Prime Minister a straight question—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There is no excuse for repeating the question. Just do the point of order.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Why won't the Prime Minister ever answer a straight question in the parliament?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I challenge the Leader of the Opposition—
Ms Claydon interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Newcastle is not in her seat and may not speak at all.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
to say where he stands on the PBS co-payment because, if he thinks the PBS co-payment is a good idea—if you think that is fair, if you think that is reasonable, if you think that is just, if you think that is moral—how can he object to the Medicare co-payment, because the principle is identical?
There is a difference between this government and the opposition. This a government which is serious about tackling Australia's fiscal problem. That is an opposition which created the fiscal problem and is now sabotaging every—
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
effort that this government makes to fix it. This is probably the most irresponsible opposition in Australia's history. It is the most irresponsible opposition in Australia's history. They were incompetent in government and they are wreckers in opposition.
Ms Ryan interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Lalor has moved her seat. She is not entitled to interject, and if she insists she can leave under 94(a). The choice is hers.