Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister for health. During the election campaign, the minister said:

I've said to doctors I want that freeze lifted as soon as possible but I appreciate that Finance and Treasury aren't allowing me to do it just yet.

This morning, she claimed: 'That's not what I've said.' Given the minister complained on public radio that Finance and Treasury were not letting her lift the freeze, why is the minister now denying she ever said it?

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is delightful to take a question from the member for Sydney, who introduced the pause on GP wages, who said at the time, 'Oh, doctors can afford it; they earn enough already,' and who had no sympathy for the circumstances of the doctors of Australia. It is delightful to take a question from—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting. The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. The member for Sydney has asked her question. She will not interject. I have warned her numerous times this week. She will listen to the answer without interjecting. I am not going to warn her endlessly.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

a senior member of a government that attacked medicines and Medicare to the tune of $6 billion. As a health minister who succeeded a health minister who blocked access to the medicines that the Prime Minister talked about that have lifesaving capabilities, it is fantastic to take a question from a senior member—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney, on a point of order. She will state the point of order.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is relevance. The minister is not talking about her six-year pause.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney will resume her seat.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was talking about the member for Sydney's pause, and she knows it well.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sydney will cease interjecting and is now warned.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am proud to be part of a government that spends record dollars on Medicare. I am proud of a government that, unlike the economic illiterates opposite, recognises that what you cannot pay for you cannot deliver. That is at the heart of the member for Sydney's question. Members opposite do not understand that the health portfolio works side by side with the portfolios of finance, treasury, social services and tax and with every other member in this place in order to deliver the health system that the patients of Australia expect. Unfortunately, what you cannot pay for you cannot deliver. We saw the Labor Party adding cost after cost to the credit card, just saying, 'It will be paid for,' not recognising that the first duty of any government is to the economic circumstances of Australians and the national accounts and not recognising that, to build a strong, sustainable health system, you must have a strong economy. Without that, we cannot implement the reforms that we are doing.

We have a policy-free zone here with Labor. There has not been a single policy since 2013—not one single health policy. As another previous health minister said, the health system will continue to demand more expenses and cannibalise itself. That is what a previous, moderately sensible Labor health minister said, recognising that, unless you stay on a calm, sensible, serious path to reform, you cannot deliver the system that puts patients before politics.