Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Prime Minister) (14:01): I should point out to the Leader of the Opposition that the Parliamentary Budget Office has found that Medicare expenditure is projected to grow at 6.1 per cent a year. Medicare expenditure is projected to grow at 6.1 per cent a year over the next decade. Ten years ago, we were spending $8 billion a year on Medicare; today, we are spending $20 billion a year on Medicare. That is why it is important to take action and to take action now to make Medicare sustainable for the long term, and that is exactly what this government has done. We are seeking to have the same modest co-payment for Medicare that members opposite support for the PBS. I say again: if it is right and proper to have a modest co-payment for the PBS, how can it be wrong to have a modest co-payment for Medicare? And, let us face it, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke wanted a co-payment on Medicare to make it sustainable. Labor's Assistant Treasurer wanted a co-payment on Medicare to make it sustainable. Even the member for Jagajaga wanted to see action taken to make Medicare sustainable— Mr Dreyfus: Madam Speaker, on a point of order— The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Mr ABBOTT: Like the member for Jagajaga [inaudible]— The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Mr ABBOTT: I have concluded my answer. The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister has concluded his answer. Mr Dreyfus: Madam Speaker, this question was about whether the— The SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has concluded. Mr Dreyfus interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat! The Prime Minister has concluded—and, if the member wishes to argue with the chair, he can leave. The choice is his. Mr Ewen Jones interjecting— The SPEAKER: Was that the member for Swan? Member for Herbert, you are warned! Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER: I have no ambition to assist any individual on which one they are backing.