Page 43 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 16 February 1993
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We are not committed to dismantling Medicare, as the Liberals are, despite their protestations to the contrary. What they are about is the old sneak attack after the election.
Mr Connolly: That is what Malcolm Fraser did in 1975.
MR BERRY: Malcolm Fraser did it. Of course we will see it over and over again. Our new Victorian Premier, with his sneak attack on workers, is another fine example of what the Liberals will do after the election.
Already we have had a clear statement from the Liberals opposite in support of Dr Hewson and his ripping off of $17m from ACT health finances, which will create an enormous burden on hospital services in the Territory. But the Liberals do not care about that. I can see why they are twitchy and interjecting all the time. They are embarrassed and they know that they are in deep trouble over Medicare. The way that they have approached this entire matter is a national disgrace. They want to make sure that there are two standards of health care in this country - one for the rich and well-off and one for the others. That is what these people are about, despite their protestations to the contrary.
This Medicare agreement is significantly different from its predecessor. In addition to specifying the guidelines covering the provision of public hospital services, it requires the Commonwealth and the States and Territories to further refine their respective roles and obligations. This will bring greater clarity to the role of each party. The ACT has joined in a cooperative arrangement with the Commonwealth to reach an agreement which is in the best interests of the people of Australia. Of course, that is in stark contrast to that which is planned for the people of Australia by the Liberals opposite. Health darkness is what is planned for them.
Mrs Carnell: You are going to have to get used to it, Wayne.
MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell interjects, "You are going to have to get used to it". We are going to have to get used to the plans of Hewson. Health darkness is what the Liberals prescribe. Madam Speaker, they are going to cost the people of Australia an extra $22 a week. They will also milk $8 billion from public health finances across this country over the next six years. That is what they are going to do. That is what they are up to.
They do not like being found out. Dr Hewson has been found out. He knows now that Medicare is a prime issue in the forthcoming Federal election. Of course, the Liberals will dodge it like the plague. No wonder. I would feel guilty too. Theirs is a poor plan which leads us nowhere. It leads us into darkness, and they know it. That is why we have made sure that these Medicare principles are enshrined amongst - - -
Mrs Carnell: No, it is not. It is because you had to. It is part of the agreement.
MR BERRY: That is why we have agreed to include them in the legislation - because it gets right up the nose of those opposite. It gets right up the nose of those opposite that we would include them in the legislation, because it shows to the people of the ACT that Labor governments - - -
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