House debates Questions without Notice
Goods and Services Tax
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
2:33 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister rule out increasing the cost of medications for pensioners by applying a 15 per cent GST to health?
Mr Dutton interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The minister for immigration will cease interjecting. The Prime Minister has the call.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I thank the honourable member for her question, and I refer to all of my answers on this subject this week.
A government member: Groundhog day.
It is a bit groundhog day, and it is increasingly challenging to give the same answer. The honourable member must understand—when the GST was introduced, it was never intended to be extended to pharmaceuticals, as you know, and the reasons for that were very cogent. The honourable member should understand that if we are to have a well-informed debate, where people feel free to make various proposals for or against particular measures, then it is important that the government not make the same mistake that the Labor government did when they effectively ruled out the entire Henry tax review after keeping it in a secret locker for the best part of six months after it was delivered.
Ms Macklin interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
What we are seeking to do is to have an open debate. My intuition is that the honourable member does not think that the GST should be extended to pharmaceuticals—
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
Or health.
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Ballarat has asked her question. The member for Ballarat will not interject.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
She should set out why she does not think that, and that would be—
Ms Butler interjecting—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Griffith will cease interjecting—is now warned. The members on my right will cease interjecting. I think it was the member for Lyons, whose voice I recognise. Thank you for the confirmation, member for Herbert. The member for Ballarat on a point of order, and will state the point of order.
Ms Catherine King Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health
I have pointed out why I think it is bad to introduce the GST.
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Ballarat will resume her seat. The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I asked the member for Ballarat to resume her seat on at least four occasions. She will leave under 94(a).
The member for Ballarat then left the chamber.
The Prime Minister can choose to conclude the answer if he wishes.
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I have completed my answer, Mr Speaker.