Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst we won't be supporting Senator Hanson's amendment, because we would have liked the opportunity to have had more time, we do understand the intent she is trying to achieve here. That is making sure that we minimise the amount of fraudulent activity that occurs in Medicare. That is absolutely to be commended.

But Senator Hanson also makes some very good points about the fact that, under this current government, Australians are being incredibly misled about Medicare. Nothing could be more egregious than the Prime Minister waving around his Medicare card during the election campaign, trying to con Australians into believing that that was the only card that they needed when they went to the doctor.

Australians know a very different story. They know when they go to the doctor, because it hits them in the hip pocket. They don't just need their Medicare card. Under this government, the amount that they are paying on their credit card for out-of-pocket expenses has never been higher. It is the highest amount that has ever been paid by Australians to visit their doctor under Medicare. I think it is incredibly disingenuous for the Labor Party to come in here and pretend that Australians don't need anything but their Medicare card, when they know that the truth is it has never been more expensive.