Mr WYATT (Hasluck—Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care) (15:26): I find the scaremongering of those opposite regarding Medicare nothing short of embarrassing given the coalition government's record of standing up for a world-class health system with affordable access. I want to remind people of a couple of things. When Dr Neal Blewett introduced the second reading of the bill, he said: ... everyone will contribute towards the nation's health costs according to his or her ability to pay— with contributions made through the tax system and the Medicare levy of one per cent. He went on to say: Basic health care should be the right of every Australian. Further, Making Medicareis a publication that takes up the story of how Labor began developing a proposal for national health insurance against the wishes of many in its party who supported the preventive, community based health system with salaried doctors. It describes the tortuous introduction of Medibank, which finally came into operation and then morphed into the current system. What is interesting is the pious approach by those on the opposite benches—that they are holier than thou in the way in which they defend Medicare. When we look at the history of the introduction of Medibank and opposition within their ranks, they were not uniform. It seems that the member for Ballarat is so completely at a loss this year when it comes to new ideas that she has fallen back on the age-old Labor policy of extensive and timely fabrication. This is to be expected from a fatigued and boring opposition who wail and fear-monger at alleged health cuts, when their own government sliced $550 million worth of Medicare savings in pathology services and redirected it to what they deemed as 'other government priorities'. Mr Snowdon interjecting— Mr WYATT: Member for Lingiari, it does not matter what you say to intervene. Sometimes it is better to have the truth on the table. You cannot play a holier than thou attitude when you make similar cuts. Mr Snowdon interjecting— Mr WYATT: I will be interested to hear your comments. It was the opposition's dear leader himself, the member for Maribyrnong, who claimed: ... if you withdraw funds from Medicare, you will invariably put up the price of healthcare for all Australians. Tell me, member for Ballarat, how does your government's policy record stand up against this statement? Alternatively, the coalition government has a clear path forward when it comes to health. In the case of pathology, we are removing a feeble and defective incentive of between $1.40 and $3.40, which is paid directly to pathology providers. Pathology companies have, in some cases, complained about the impact our government's changes will make to shareholders—to shareholders, not patients—which demonstrates what is really motivating these organisations. With Labor's condemnation of this coalition policy, it seems Labor has finally been exposed as the party of big business, rather than the party for each individual Australian, regardless of circumstance. Under this government, we have sent a strong message that Medicare is not a guaranteed bankable revenue where corporations cash in on taxpayer money. As a government, therefore, we are making it clear that not only should every Australian have access to a first-rate service but that the system of health care we promote is one that is sustainable and relevant to consumers in the future. Australians deserve the Liberal-National government, which sees health care as a priority, not just as a playground for party tricks and policy flips as the Labor opposition does. Australians deserve better than the six years of anxiety and instability that Labor gave them. Those opposite on occasion seek to preach on MBS indexation. I am flabbergasted that their memory of their own government should be so incredibly poor. I am glad the coalition government is doing much more work in the area of Alzheimer's, given the difficulties it is posing to some of our Labor colleagues. It was Labor who introduced the freeze on MBS indexation when they were in government—and they seem to have forgotten that. It was Labor that froze the indexation of Medicare rebates. It was apparently okay for Labor to freeze the MBS indexation, but those opposite are suddenly outraged that a coalition government would dare to do the same. Hypocrisy, thy name is Labor! As a government, we are making it clear that not only should every Australian have access to first-rate services but also the system of health care we promote is one that is sustainable into the future. This means, to quote the Labor spokesperson for health herself: 'The opposition would be kidding itself if it didn't recognise there were challenges in the budget and that savings needed to be found.' Ms King interjecting— Mr WYATT: That is fine; that is not a problem. Let me also go on to give some other quotes, just to jog the memory of the member for Ballarat. 'There is no area that is going to be exempt. We have to look across the board,' said Catherine King on 22 February 2015 on Sky News'sAgenda. Let me share a couple of others with you. … we did think we needed to make savings in pathology. … Now, they didn’t like it, they weren't chanting in the street saying that was terrific, they didn’t like it. That was Labor's spokesperson, Catherine King, on 6 January 2016. In government, Labor worked with the medical profession to improve the quality and safety of Medicare, and where savings were realised, they were reinvested back into the health system. So said Labor health spokesperson Catherine King on 27 September. Ms King interjecting— Mr WYATT: Can I remind the member for Ballarat: it is great that you have selective memory, because your quotes are clearly there for all to see. Ms King: You're selectively quoting, Ken. Mr WYATT: It is not selective quoting. And let me also say: Some of those savings did go back into the health Budget, not all of them … This was Labor's health spokesperson, Catherine King, on 6 January 2016 at the press conference. Ms Plibersek interjecting— Mr WYATT: The member for Sydney might want to interject, but she also went on to say: We will put a cap on selected Medicare items from 1 November this year where excessive fees are being charged or where Medicare may be being used inappropriately … … … … The Government will also tighten regulations around diagnostic radiology services so that those taking the images hold minimum qualifications. … it will produce savings of $45.8 million over four years. Ms King: What happened to bulk-billing, Ken? It went up. Mr WYATT: Actually, they did not go up as much as you projected, Member for Ballarat. Ms King: Yes they did. Mr WYATT: No they did not. I think you need to go back and read what is in there. Ms King interjecting— Mr WYATT: Let me keep going. That is why the once-in-a-generation review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule is so imperative for Australia. The review is looking at all of the more than 5,700 Medicare items, ensuring they are relevant and effective. This is a prime example of the sensible policymaking that the opposition were too lazy and distracted to achieve in the six years they had in government. To quote the former Labor health minister Nicola Roxon: Without reform and a careful and methodical approach, the system will cannibalise itself. Because in health there is a continuous clamour for more and more funding with no regard to where the money comes from. I am proud to be the assistant minister for health in a government committed to improving our health system in a way that Labor never managed to get around to. I am proud to be part of a government that treats the Australian public's health as a priority. We are digitising our payments scheme, bringing government processes into line with a modern, innovative Australia. This will ensure a more efficient system that processes more than $42 billion worth of payment transactions every year. I have every faith that the great work of this government in ensuring that every Australian, regardless of circumstances, receives health care will not be drowned out by a few bitter voices from those opposite. And it is interesting, hearing the continuous interjection from the shadow minister— Mr Tehan: It is. It has hit a raw nerve. Mr WYATT: It has hit a raw nerve. And I will not be lectured on Medicare by those opposite. They do not have a leg to stand on, given the six years of misery they had in government, where they cared little for the circumstances of the people they claimed to represent. I wholeheartedly reject their flip-flopping as they seek to condemn the current government for policies and pathways they so recently supported. It is great that it has hit a raw nerve with you, Member for Ballarat, because, when you think back on the period of when Labor produced its reports and had key areas, they never fully implemented those reports. There was never a full commitment to the funding, nor was there, in the forward estimates, the money that was required. Ms King interjecting— Mr WYATT: Let me say to you, Member for Ballarat: the selective memory, and some of the things that you have raised and challenged, are coming back to haunt you—the same as they will haunt the member for Sydney. So I strongly support the process in which we are engaging with the medical profession and with state and territory governments in achieving outcomes.