Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Minister for Rural Health) Share this | Hansard source

The scaremongering from the other side is extraordinary on this issue. Let me point out for the chamber for those who do not already know that the pathology charge incentive was $1.40 up to $3.40 per item.

I think those around the country are getting absolutely sick about the scaremongering. It is a matter for those providers to determine whether they are going to bulk-bill. What we have seen over the previous seven years is those bulk-billing rates go up 1.3 per cent, from 86.3 per cent to 87.6 per cent over that period of time at a cost of $500 million, which we on this side of the chamber do not think is appropriate use of taxpayers' money.