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

My question is to the Prime Minister. It is a matter of record that the Prime Minister has committed to the GP tax on at least 53 separate occasions over the past 10 months. So when the Prime Minister says, 'never, ever' isn't it true that Australians can never, ever trust him again?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There will be silence on both my right and left!

Mr Sukkar interjecting—

The member for Deakin! The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I have learnt, and what I have learnt is that the co-payment is dead, buried and cremated.

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. I refer to a report today that the Prime Minister told cabinet about the GP tax: 'This issue has been mishandled, it has been mishandled until now.' Was the Prime Minister reflecting on his own dismal performance, the whole government, or just that of the hapless former health minister who is sitting right over there?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

There will be silence! The member for Ballarat has asked her question, and if she does not wish to stay and listen to the answer she will keep it up. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

The shadow minister who asked the question obviously has not been listening to my answers earlier today, because what I said earlier today was that, as a former health minister, I should have known better. I should have known better than to attempt health reform without the strong cooperation and support of the medical profession. I should have known better. What I well and truly learnt in my four years as a health minister was that, if you want to bring about effective health reform in this country, it is best done—in fact, often, it is only done—with the broad support of the medical profession. I accept chastisement, particularly given my experience as health minister, but it is much better to learn than to be obstinate. We have learnt, and that is why we are determined to improve the Medicare system. We are determined to make a great system better, and we are going to do so in the closest possible cooperation with the medical profession and the other great health professions of our country.