Page 1840 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 June 2014
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MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Will you sit down, please, Mr Hanson. Point of order, Mr Corbell.
Mr Corbell: Madam Deputy Speaker, Mr Hanson is now reflecting on your ruling. You are not shutting down the debate. You are asking him to remain relevant to the question before the chair. His comments, Madam Deputy Speaker, are disrespectful of your ruling.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, I do find the point of order valid. I do find it disrespectful. All I am asking you to do is not go off the subject of the motion that is before us all at the moment. So if you could just remain relevant, which is the point of order. Thank you very much.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Let me be very clear about, as I said, the way I consider this motion and the motivation for it, why Mr Rattenbury is moving it, and the contradiction in complaining about a $7 co-payment, as much as we may not want to see that, whilst at the same time jacking up every fee and charge in this territory that is going to put thousands of dollars onto the bills of average Canberrans.
We are strong supporters of a sustainable Medicare. Medicare is the cornerstone of the modern Australian healthcare system. It provides an important safety net for the health of all Australians. It is an important part of Australia’s modern fabric, which helps underpin the health of the nation and ultimately its economic and social success.
However, Medicare, like all government services, must be sustainable. The taxpayer currently funds 263 million free services a year under Medicare. Ten years ago we were spending $8 billion on the MBS. Today it has grown to $19 billion, and in 10 years time it will be more than $34 billion. Medicare is currently unsustainable. It is under unprecedented cost and demand pressures from an ageing population, increased lifestyle-related chronic illness, advances in technology and patterns of youth.
It is important to understand that the co-payment proposal has built-in safety nets. From 1 July 2015, previously bulk-billed patients will be asked to contribute $7 to the cost of each visit to the GP. The $7 contribution will also apply to out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services. To protect the vulnerable, the contribution will be capped at 10 visits a year for commonwealth concession card holders and children under 16.
Doctors will receive $5 less from the government for a standard GP consultation in recognition of the new $7 patient contribution. This means GPs will receive $2 more per consultation when they charge the $7 contribution. Doctors will be eligible for a low-gap incentive to encourage them to charge concession holders and children only the $7 contribution for the first 10 visits.
From 1 January 2016, a new safety net will ensure that Medicare resources are appropriately directed to help the out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-funded services.
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