Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, is the GP co-payment a tax by any other name?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is a very strange question.

Honourable members interjecting—

The question has been asked. There will be silence so that we can hear the answer.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are asking Australians to pay $7 when they visit a GP. That goes to the GP. The bottom line is that it is a payment for service. From our perspective, if we want to make sure that Medicare is sustainable into the future, we are asking Australians to make a contribution along the way. I think this is an important principle. And don't just ask me; ask the shadow assistant Treasurer over there. He thinks it is an important principle. Come on give him a break. I am promoting his book again!

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. If it helps, on 13 May on 7.30, the Treasurer did agree—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. As well as being a strange question, it is also very broad. The Treasurer has the call.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fraser said:

But there's a better way of operating a health system, and the change should hardly hurt at all. As economists have shown, the ideal model involves a small co-payment—not enough to put a dent in your weekly budget, but enough to make you think twice before you call the [doctor]. And the idea is hardly radical.

Well, the honourable member for Fraser is right: the idea is hardly radical because the Labor Party came up with the idea—it is hardly radical. In fact, the honourable member for Jagajaga—

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't go there!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am giving you a plug as well!

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't go there!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay, I won't. The honourable member for Jagajaga, who was there at the time—

Ms Butler interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith will desist.

Ms Butler interjecting—

The member for Griffith is warned!

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How about that? Can I go that far? She was witness to the birth of Labor's commitment to a Medicare co-payment. She was there in the birthing room. Can I go that far? She was there in the birthing room, but of course there is no prouder dad than the member for Fraser. And, of course, the bottom line is that if we want to make our health and welfare system sustainable and if we want to make our education system sustainable, we have to ask Australians to make a contribution along the way. Because if we want the same level of service in the future—in fact, if we aspire to have a better level of service in the future—then we have to make it pay along the way.

Ms King interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat will desist.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is the problem with Labor. They have never accepted that you have to live within your means. They have never accepted that because they have never done it. They do not accept the principle because they have never done it. Even on their budget rhetoric at the moment they are completely confused.

Opposition members interjecting—

The Labor Party say, 'Take the savings'. The Labor Party say, 'Here are our $21 billion of savings', but the Labor Party are voting against their own their own—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The cacophony on my left—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Confected laughter—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will resume his seat. Has the Treasurer concluded his answer? Well, in that case—

Honourable members interjecting—

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

The Treasurer has the call.

Honourable members interjecting—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Don't encourage him.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Due to the interruption in the gallery, I will give the Treasurer a little more time.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The bottom line is we are being true to our word. We are asking the Australian people to live within their means. We are asking the government to live within its means and that consistent principle will prevail.