Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Brown, I will clarify this. There are all sorts of consultative and advisory bodies across government. In this portfolio, I know for example that the AMA—the Australian Medical Association—is often in consultation with the department. Sometimes the department and the AMA agree; sometimes they do not. Government takes their advice sometimes; sometimes it does not. That is government. This particular group, Medicines Australia, is no more and no less than any other industry group that government consults with. It is as simple as that.