Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration) Share this | Hansard source

On that basis, I promise I will just make a very short contribution to make sure that I have understood the minister correctly. I did not want to embarrass Minister Roxon by revealing some of the discussions we have had. I am very pleased to hear that the minister has now put on record that the government will withdraw the measure in relation to item 42740. That will ensure our help in facilitating speedy passage of both the legislation and the determinations this week. However, we do stand by our amendment, because it is good for this time. However, we think that in 12 months time the government could again be in a position of needing to find budget cuts somewhere. Even though we were told that health was a high-priority area before the election, all of the government’s budget cuts are focused on the health portfolio. There is reckless spending everywhere else, but there are budget cuts in the Health and Ageing portfolio. On that basis, we still believe—and we are very grateful for the indication the minister has just given—that, if down the track you want to impose additional costs on patients, additional out-of-pocket expenses, you should not be able to do so unless you have the support of a majority of members in both houses of parliament. That is the effect of this amendment.