Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

There's only one threat to our health system and that's those opposite because, if their record from the time that they were in government is any indication, they are not a friend of Medicare.

Senator Cameron interjecting—

Their idea of protecting Medicare was sending their thug mates in—your mates, Senator Cameron, and the ones that Senator Cash was scaring little old ladies at midnight with—during the last federal election. That's their idea of a really good health policy.

Let me go back to Bennelong. The waiting times at Ryde Hospital during the time of the Keneally government blew out. Residents in Bennelong were waiting beyond the medically recommended times to receive important surgeries like hip and knee replacements. In 2011-12 alone, 77 residents had their surgeries delayed during that period. (Time expired)