Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

You and Senator Hanson have sought to use the committee stage for this bill to canvass a wide set of issues—some of which are grounded in fact, some of which are not. We are now straying well beyond the parameters of the bill. This is a bill that deals with co-payments associated with the PBS. It doesn't deal with the operation of the TGA. But I do wish to say that I do not think it is in the public interest for you and others to undermine public confidence in the TGA.

The TGA is a well-established authority which serves an important purpose: validating the suitability of pharmaceuticals for use in Australia. It plays a critical role in ensuring that medicines are safe and fit for purpose when they're used in Australia and it is a precursor for being able to list medicines on the PBS. It is part of a world-leading health infrastructure that sees Australians enjoy significantly better health outcomes than many other people across many of the countries that we would ordinarily compare ourselves with. We are proud of that health infrastructure. You may not be proud; you may have a different agenda. But my view is that we are best served by ensuring that Australians can be confident in the health organisations that have done a good job over many years in supporting the health of Australian citizens.