Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. According to the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association, the Prime Minister's decision to abolish bulk-billing incentives will mean general patients who are previously bulk-billed will now pay upfront costs of up to $2,207 for a liver metastasis diagnosis. Why is the Prime Minister determined to destroy Medicare and slug Australians more to have their liver metastasis diagnosed?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not accept the proposition that has been put by the member for Ballarat.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will just pause for a moment. There is far too much noise, and the member for Ballarat has asked a serious question. She presumably wishes to hear the answer without interjection. The Prime Minister has the call.

Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Attorney General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It would be good to have a serious answer.

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

The member for Isaacs will leave under 94(a).

The member for Isaacs then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the member for Ballarat should know, the bulk-billing incentive is to be replaced by a low-gap incentive to try to ensure that we get the same incidence of a $7 co-payment as we currently have of bulk-billing. I simply say to members opposite: the information they are peddling is false and they should desist from this scare campaign.

Mr Champion interjecting—

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

The member for Wakefield will leave under 94(a).

The member for Wakefield then left the chamber.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All we are proposing is the same modest co-payment in Medicare, as the member, who is now shaking her head and looking very sanctimonious, is quite happy to have for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the attachment from the Diagnostic Imaging Association which shows that figure of $2,207 and also the measures from the budget which clearly show you are scrapping the bulk-billing incentive for diagnostic imaging. I seek leave to table both of those.

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

The member knows that under the rulings that documents that are public documents, which includes the budget papers, are not permitted.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And the diagnostic imaging?

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

Is leave granted?

Leave is not granted.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am happy to provide you with the table.