Page 3290 - Week 12 - Thursday, 19 November 1992
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Mr Lamont: Madam Speaker, I also take a point of order. Mr De Domenico has misrepresented what I said. I said that what they will do is throw their document out the window as soon as they get elected.
Mr Kaine: Madam Speaker, if he wants to make a personal explanation, he can do it after the debate is over.
MADAM SPEAKER: Under standing order 46, I believe, Mr Kaine.
Mr Cornwell: Like they tossed Sheehan out because he told the truth.
Mr Lamont: Like Kennett.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! I am attempting to protect Mr De Domenico from both his own colleagues and his opponents.
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Madam Speaker; I appreciate your concern. Private health funds will be able to act as agents for Medicare. Private health funds will be able to offer cover for medical fees higher than the Medicare schedule and offer partial cover for all but 15 per cent of the gap between the fee and the Medicare rebate. Bulkbilling will be retained for four million pensioners, health care card holders, disabled persons, veterans and war widows - all the nice, warm, furry social justice things that you talk about but that we will deliver. Medicare rebates of 85 per cent will continue for those who are bulkbilled, but rebates for other patients will fall to 75 per cent of the Medicare schedule, and pathology services will remain at 70 per cent of the Medicare schedule fee.
Migration of doctors to Australia and the output of doctors from Australian medical schools will be closely monitored and controlled, because there is a reality that that needs to be done. Community rating will be maintained. I will repeat that as well: Community rating will be maintained. Pharmacies will be able to act as Medicare agents, because they have the expertise and the inclination and the will to do so, and they have access to the community. They look very good in terms of the community's view of people; they rate very much higher than politicians, in fact, which is not too difficult, I must admit. Things such as funding for mobile breast cancer screening and densitometry units used for measuring bone density will also be extended, at a cost of $8m.
In summary, the people on the other side of the house talk about how magnificent this Medicare agreement is, when one of their colleagues from Western Australia, who was considered to be the most knowledgeable Minister for Health that any State had had, followed his conscience and resigned because he did not believe in what he was going to sign. But no, Mr Berry did not do that; he signed that agreement. Mr Howe, by the way, happens to be from the same political faction as he is. Mr Berry has sold short the people of the ACT. It is going to cost us $21m more. Shame on you, Mr Berry, and shame on your Federal Labor Government! You have sold us short.
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