Division Description Changes — Bills — National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail — 16th Jul 2014

All changes made to the description and title of this division.

View division | Edit description

Change	Division
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by mackay staff on 2014-10-09 14:56:12	Title Description The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). ) ~~_Background to the bill_~~ The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to: ~~- increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;~~ ~~- increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;~~ ~~- increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and~~ - increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).) The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill (read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)), which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). ) _Background to the bill_ The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to: - increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; - increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; - increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and - increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018. (More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).) A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by system on 2014-10-07 16:22:12	Title Description The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. ) ~~''Background to the bill''~~ The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. ) It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: * increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; * increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; * increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].) ~~A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.~~ The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). ) _Background to the bill_ The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to: - increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; - increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; - increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and - increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).) A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by system on 2014-10-07 16:17:00	Title Description The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2] The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. ) ''Background to the bill'' The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. ) It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: * increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; * increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; * increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4] * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].) A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost. ~~''References''~~ * [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. * [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. * [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. * [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by mackay staff on 2014-07-25 09:51:16	Title Description The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2] The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2] ''Background to the bill'' The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: * increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; * increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; * increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4] A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost. ''References'' * [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. * [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. * [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. * [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by mackay staff on 2014-07-17 18:28:26	Title ~~National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 - Consideration in Detail - Put the question~~ National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 — Consideration in Detail — Put the question (to agree to the bill) Description The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2] ''Background to the bill'' The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: * increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; * increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; * increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4] A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost. ''References'' * [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. * [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. * [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. * [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here]. * [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].
representatives vote 2014-07-16#3 Edited by mackay staff on 2014-07-17 17:53:11	Title Bills — National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 - Consideration in Detail - Put the question Description ~~<p class="speaker">Catherine King</p>~~ <p>What an absolute disgrace. You gagged debate on a bill that is the first of this government's health budget bills. What is so important that this health minister cannot debate his own budget bill? Where are you going that you cannot spend the time on debating the first of your health budget bills? This is a bill that hardly any of you on the other side of this chamber were able or had the courage to speak for. Very few of you did, and none of you from marginal seats were able to say why you think it is okay, in the context of imposing a GP tax and cutting billions of dollars out of public hospitals, to increase the costs of medicines for everybody. More importantly, why aren't you defending those people in your constituencies who have chronic diseases and need multiple pharmaceuticals? What is so important that you will not debate this bill properly?</p> <p>Members on this side of the House have been well and truly ready to debate and oppose this appalling bill. This is the first of your health measures. We have questions about these bills. What modelling have you done? What impact will this bill have on patients across the country? We already know that the last time the Howard government increased the Pharmaceutical Benefits co-payment there was a drop in people filling their prescriptions for essential medicines. We know that the COAG Reform Council's report, recently released, stated very clearly that there are many patients who are noncompliant with their medications and who are not filling their prescriptions because of the cost. This is a bill that seeks to fundamentally increase the costs of medicines by 15 per cent and to change the safety net—to make it harder and harder for vulnerable patients to access medicines. What do those on the other side of this chamber have to say about it? Absolutely nothing! They have not told us about the modelling they might have done to see what it will do. It is a $1.3 billion hit on all those in this country going to a chemist trying to fill a script.</p> The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2] ''Background to the bill'' The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to: * increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015; * increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015; * increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and * increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4] A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost. ''References'' * [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. * [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. * [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. * [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here]. <p>This government does not want to debate it—it is not able to debate it. There was a paltry list of speakers from the other side yesterday. Four of them were trotted out to speak on this bill, and some of them were unable to defend it. There were no speakers from the government today. The minister did not want to allow the debate to continue and was not able even to sum up. This minister has some questions to answer on this bill. What modelling have you done? You are obviously modelling in that $1.3 billion that there will be people who do not fill their scripts. What modelling have you done about the impact of this? What modelling have you done on the combined impact of this and your GP tax? What modelling have you done on the impact on Australian families? You clearly want people to use less medicine; that is what the measure is designed to do. You have clearly decided that with this $1.3 billion, which you are ripping out of the pockets of sick patients trying to access medicines, there will be less usage and fewer people filling their scripts. What is the cost going to be on the health system—in terms of people's presentations to doctors and hospitals? People will be avoiding the care of their GPs because of your GP tax, and they will be avoiding medicines. They are serious questions that you should answer.</p> <p>What have you factored into that $1.3 billion that you are ripping out of the pockets of patients trying to access money? You have been entirely focused in this budget not on the health of the population, not even on the sustainability of the health system, but on how you can cut health—not keeping people healthy, not keeping people well, not providing opportunities for people through the healthcare system to actually increase their capacity to participate in the social and economic life of this country. And this bill is just an example of it. It is the start of your horror budget when it comes to health and your horror budget when it comes to patients in this country. The fact that you are unable to properly debate it, unable to put up speakers on it, shows just how paltry this government's policy development is in the space of health. And, frankly, it is an absolute disgrace that you want— <i>(Time expired)</i></p> ~~<p class="speaker">Stephen Jones</p>~~ <p>It is an absolute outrage that the coalition today have gagged debate on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014, this important bill. I make this point: they had the opportunity to let the people of Australia vote on this proposition, but they did not have the courage to put this proposition to the people of Australia not 12 months ago when we went to a general election. They then ram the bill into the parliament and demand that we vote on it without having a full debate. Well, there is a very good reason why they will not let us have a full debate on it: they do not want sunlight on it.</p> <p>As the member for Ballarat, the shadow minister, has pointed out just now, they could not even fill a speaking list on it. In fact, the shortest queue in the building yesterday was the queue of government MPs who were willing to stand up in this place and defend this atrocious legislation. Only four speakers were willing to stand here in this place yesterday and defend this atrocious legislation. There is a very good reason for that. We know that one of the last reports that the COAG Reform Council published before the government shut it down—because they do not like the message that the COAG Reform Council is giving them—showed that there are already people who are failing to fill the scripts that their health professionals have told them are essential for their health. There are already people who cannot afford to fill those scripts. In fact, in June they found that around 8.5 per cent of people were already delaying or failing to fill their prescriptions.</p> <p>If you look at disadvantaged Australians, the figure is even higher. Around 12½ per cent of people from disadvantaged areas are not filling their scripts, because they cannot afford to. And then there are Indigenous Australians. We have heard a lot of fine words from the Prime Minister. In fact, I very much enjoyed the Prime Minister's speech on the Closing the Gap report, when he put his hand on his heart and said that we needed to do more to close the gap in health outcomes between those with Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds. I can tell you that this measure is going to have a calamitous effect on Indigenous health, because already, as the COAG Reform Council is telling us, around 36 per cent of Indigenous people are going to the doctor and the doctor is writing them a prescription for pharmaceuticals that they need to help them with their health conditions and they are unable to get that prescription filled, because they cannot afford it. What is going to happen when the cost of their prescriptions goes up by 13 per cent? That is what is happening. That is what members on that side of the House today are going to be voting for. They are going to be voting for a 13 per cent increase in the cost of prescriptions.</p> <p>Yesterday we had the marvellous spectacle of the Deputy Prime Minister of this country standing at that dispatch box and telling people during question time that costs would always be lower under a coalition government. Have you ever heard any greater nonsense than that—the Deputy Prime Minister of this country saying that costs are always going to be lower under a coalition government? Well, here is one group of costs that are not going to be lower under a coalition government—a 13 per cent increase in the cost of pharmaceuticals. And the Prime Minister is fond of saying that prices are going to go up and up and up and up. Under this legislation, members on that side of the House are about to vote in favour of a bill that sends the prices of pharmaceuticals in this country up by 10 per cent, as a minimum, and increases the safety net on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by 10 per cent per annum between now and 2018.</p> <p>Is it any wonder that there was not a member of the National Party who was willing to stand and defend this legislation? That is because it is a complete breach of the policy that the National Party took to the election in 2013. They led Australians to believe that they were actually going to decrease the cost of pharmaceuticals. But when they vote on this legislation, within an hour, they are going to be breaking that promise to the Australian people. <i>(Time expired)</i></p> ~~<p class="speaker">Alan Griffin</p>~~ <p>This legislation—the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014—is ideology disguised as reform. This is bad policy. It is policy that is going to affect low-income earners. It is policy that is going to affect Indigenous Australians. It is policy that is going to affect people in regional and rural Australia. It is policy that was not exposed to scrutiny by the Australian people at the last election. We heard from those opposite that there were not going to be cuts in health. But I will give one thing to the then shadow Treasurer: he made a speech a year or so before, in London, where he said, 'The age of entitlement has to end,' and the circumstances were that things had to be done. In fact, in that speech he flagged co-payments around a range of different areas in the medical field. He flagged some of those things.</p> <p>But where was it in the coalition's policy in the lead-up to the election? It just was not there. There was no mention. Since the election we have had Churchillian appeals to ensure that we must all suffer. But I tell you what: you are suffering a lot more if you have a young family and you need access to medical facilities, you are suffering a lot more if you are a senior citizen in a situation where you need essential medications and you are suffering a lot more if you are an Indigenous Australian who has difficulty in accessing health services. And this legislation is part of a series of initiatives.</p> <p>I am not surprised that those opposite are not speaking up in favour of this. They just want it to go through—because they are embarrassed. Many of them, I believe, are ashamed. They know what is happening out in their electorates: the same thing that is happening in ours. When we go out there, front the community and talk about what is going on, what is happening in this parliament and what the government many of them voted for is doing—I can tell you what they are saying. They are saying: 'I did not vote for this. This is not what I thought I was getting. This is not what I was told by Tony Abbott. This is not what I was told by the local candidate for the coalition in the election campaign.' Instead they are getting these sorts of initiatives.</p> <p>It is supposed to be, we hear, about sustainability and cost. Yet that flies in the face of what has been happening with PBS costs in recent years. The Labor government worked in consultation with the medicines industry to rein in PBS costs. Good reforms were done then—real reforms that delivered a cap, effectively, on the growth that was, for a while, quite unsustainable. In addition, if it really were about sustainability, what the government would be saying is: 'We are making this saving. We will take that money and put it into the area that we are trying to sustain.' But that is not where it is going. It is going into a medical research fund—and all we know about that is that we have a name for it, that it is going to cure everything and that it will happen down the track. That is cold comfort for the many people in Australian society who need access to medical services now, that is cold comfort for people in rural and regional Australia and that is cold comfort for Indigenous Australians who will be dealing with the pointy end of health reform—as this government calls it—in the years ahead.</p> <p>The COAG Reform Council report released in early June made it clear that, when you increase costs to individuals, you can expect them to make choices—as we have seen in other jurisdictions. What we will see is as many as one in 10 people not accessing the medications that have been prescribed for them. These are not medications that they might like or medications that they think it might be fun to take; they are medications that have been prescribed for them by registered medical practitioners—experts and professionals in their fields who have taken the Hippocratic oath, which is all about providing people with the services they need to maintain their health and wellbeing. In question time today, a number of members of the opposition, including the member for Ballarat and the Leader of the Opposition, discussed a petition signed by many medical professionals. There has been a massive outcry from medical professionals, making it very clear that this is not good health policy.</p> <p>Despite all that, this bill will get through this place. I note that the member for Dickson, the Minister for Health, has said that the Labor Party have supported co-payments for 50 years. It is true that we have supported co-payments in this area for 50 years, but the argument that all co-payments are the same is ridiculous. It is like arguing that all taxes are the same. It is a joke. <i>(Time expired)</i></p> ~~<p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>~~

Change

Division

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by mackay staff

on 2014-10-09 14:56:12

Title

Description

The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). )
~~_Background to the bill_~~
The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to:
~~- increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;~~
~~- increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;~~
~~- increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and~~
- increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).)
The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill (read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)), which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). )
_Background to the bill_
The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to:
- increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
- increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
- increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
- increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.
(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).)
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by system

on 2014-10-07 16:22:12

Title

Description

The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. )
~~''Background to the bill''~~
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. ) It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
* increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
* increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
* increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].)
~~A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.~~
The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1) to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [here](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [here](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives). )
_Background to the bill_
The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282) implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [2014-15 Budget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget).(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [here](http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114). ) It will amend the [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme) and the [Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme](http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx) ('PBS') so as to:
- increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
- increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
- increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
- increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [here](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282).)
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by system

on 2014-10-07 16:17:00

Title

Description

The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2]
The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here]. ) which was subsequently put.(See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here]. )
''Background to the bill''
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].(Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here]. ) It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
* increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
* increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
* increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4]
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.(More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].)
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
~~''References''~~
* [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here].
* [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here].
* [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here].
* [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by mackay staff

on 2014-07-25 09:51:16

Title

Description

The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2]
The majority voted in favour of a [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-16.122.1 motion] to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2]
''Background to the bill''
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
* increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
* increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
* increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4]
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
''References''
* [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here].
* [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here].
* [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here].
* [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by mackay staff

on 2014-07-17 18:28:26

Title

~~National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 - Consideration in Detail - Put the question~~
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 — Consideration in Detail — Put the question (to agree to the bill)

Description

The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2]
''Background to the bill''
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
* increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
* increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
* increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4]
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
''References''
* [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here].
* [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here].
* [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here].
* [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].
* [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].

representatives vote 2014-07-16#3

Edited by mackay staff

on 2014-07-17 17:53:11

Title

Bills — National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014 - Consideration in Detail - Put the question

Description

~~Catherine King~~
What an absolute disgrace. You gagged debate on a bill that is the first of this government's health budget bills. What is so important that this health minister cannot debate his own budget bill? Where are you going that you cannot spend the time on debating the first of your health budget bills? This is a bill that hardly any of you on the other side of this chamber were able or had the courage to speak for. Very few of you did, and none of you from marginal seats were able to say why you think it is okay, in the context of imposing a GP tax and cutting billions of dollars out of public hospitals, to increase the costs of medicines for everybody. More importantly, why aren't you defending those people in your constituencies who have chronic diseases and need multiple pharmaceuticals? What is so important that you will not debate this bill properly?
Members on this side of the House have been well and truly ready to debate and oppose this appalling bill. This is the first of your health measures. We have questions about these bills. What modelling have you done? What impact will this bill have on patients across the country? We already know that the last time the Howard government increased the Pharmaceutical Benefits co-payment there was a drop in people filling their prescriptions for essential medicines. We know that the COAG Reform Council's report, recently released, stated very clearly that there are many patients who are noncompliant with their medications and who are not filling their prescriptions because of the cost. This is a bill that seeks to fundamentally increase the costs of medicines by 15 per cent and to change the safety net—to make it harder and harder for vulnerable patients to access medicines. What do those on the other side of this chamber have to say about it? Absolutely nothing! They have not told us about the modelling they might have done to see what it will do. It is a $1.3 billion hit on all those in this country going to a chemist trying to fill a script.
The majority voted in favour of a motion to put the question, which has the effect of ending the consideration in detail debate on the bill. The question was whether to agree to the bill,[1] which was subsequently put.[2]
''Background to the bill''
The [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 bill] implements one of the measures proposed by the Government as part of its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Australian_federal_budget 2014-15 Budget].[3] It will amend the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] and the [http://www.dva.gov.au/service_providers/doctors/Pages/rpbs.aspx Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] ('PBS') so as to:
* increase the concessional patient co-payment by 80 cents from 1 January 2015;
* increase the general patient co-payment by $5.00 from 1 January 2015;
* increase the concessional safety net threshold by two prescriptions each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018; and
* increase the general patient safety net threshold by 10 per cent each year for four years, from 2015 to 2018.[4]
A co-payment is the amount paid by the patient towards the cost of their PBS medicine. The government covers the rest of the cost.
''References''
* [1] Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through to become law [http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html here].
* [2] See that division [http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/division.php?date=2014-07-16&number=4&house=representatives here].
* [3] Read more about the Government's Budget proposal [http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1415/measures/health-matters-and-health-professionals/35-90114 here].
* [4] More information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, is available [http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5282 here].
This government does not want to debate it—it is not able to debate it. There was a paltry list of speakers from the other side yesterday. Four of them were trotted out to speak on this bill, and some of them were unable to defend it. There were no speakers from the government today. The minister did not want to allow the debate to continue and was not able even to sum up. This minister has some questions to answer on this bill. What modelling have you done? You are obviously modelling in that $1.3 billion that there will be people who do not fill their scripts. What modelling have you done about the impact of this? What modelling have you done on the combined impact of this and your GP tax? What modelling have you done on the impact on Australian families? You clearly want people to use less medicine; that is what the measure is designed to do. You have clearly decided that with this $1.3 billion, which you are ripping out of the pockets of sick patients trying to access medicines, there will be less usage and fewer people filling their scripts. What is the cost going to be on the health system—in terms of people's presentations to doctors and hospitals? People will be avoiding the care of their GPs because of your GP tax, and they will be avoiding medicines. They are serious questions that you should answer.
What have you factored into that $1.3 billion that you are ripping out of the pockets of patients trying to access money? You have been entirely focused in this budget not on the health of the population, not even on the sustainability of the health system, but on how you can cut health—not keeping people healthy, not keeping people well, not providing opportunities for people through the healthcare system to actually increase their capacity to participate in the social and economic life of this country. And this bill is just an example of it. It is the start of your horror budget when it comes to health and your horror budget when it comes to patients in this country. The fact that you are unable to properly debate it, unable to put up speakers on it, shows just how paltry this government's policy development is in the space of health. And, frankly, it is an absolute disgrace that you want— (Time expired)
~~Stephen Jones~~
It is an absolute outrage that the coalition today have gagged debate on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014, this important bill. I make this point: they had the opportunity to let the people of Australia vote on this proposition, but they did not have the courage to put this proposition to the people of Australia not 12 months ago when we went to a general election. They then ram the bill into the parliament and demand that we vote on it without having a full debate. Well, there is a very good reason why they will not let us have a full debate on it: they do not want sunlight on it.
As the member for Ballarat, the shadow minister, has pointed out just now, they could not even fill a speaking list on it. In fact, the shortest queue in the building yesterday was the queue of government MPs who were willing to stand up in this place and defend this atrocious legislation. Only four speakers were willing to stand here in this place yesterday and defend this atrocious legislation. There is a very good reason for that. We know that one of the last reports that the COAG Reform Council published before the government shut it down—because they do not like the message that the COAG Reform Council is giving them—showed that there are already people who are failing to fill the scripts that their health professionals have told them are essential for their health. There are already people who cannot afford to fill those scripts. In fact, in June they found that around 8.5 per cent of people were already delaying or failing to fill their prescriptions.
If you look at disadvantaged Australians, the figure is even higher. Around 12½ per cent of people from disadvantaged areas are not filling their scripts, because they cannot afford to. And then there are Indigenous Australians. We have heard a lot of fine words from the Prime Minister. In fact, I very much enjoyed the Prime Minister's speech on the Closing the Gap report, when he put his hand on his heart and said that we needed to do more to close the gap in health outcomes between those with Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds. I can tell you that this measure is going to have a calamitous effect on Indigenous health, because already, as the COAG Reform Council is telling us, around 36 per cent of Indigenous people are going to the doctor and the doctor is writing them a prescription for pharmaceuticals that they need to help them with their health conditions and they are unable to get that prescription filled, because they cannot afford it. What is going to happen when the cost of their prescriptions goes up by 13 per cent? That is what is happening. That is what members on that side of the House today are going to be voting for. They are going to be voting for a 13 per cent increase in the cost of prescriptions.
Yesterday we had the marvellous spectacle of the Deputy Prime Minister of this country standing at that dispatch box and telling people during question time that costs would always be lower under a coalition government. Have you ever heard any greater nonsense than that—the Deputy Prime Minister of this country saying that costs are always going to be lower under a coalition government? Well, here is one group of costs that are not going to be lower under a coalition government—a 13 per cent increase in the cost of pharmaceuticals. And the Prime Minister is fond of saying that prices are going to go up and up and up and up. Under this legislation, members on that side of the House are about to vote in favour of a bill that sends the prices of pharmaceuticals in this country up by 10 per cent, as a minimum, and increases the safety net on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by 10 per cent per annum between now and 2018.
Is it any wonder that there was not a member of the National Party who was willing to stand and defend this legislation? That is because it is a complete breach of the policy that the National Party took to the election in 2013. They led Australians to believe that they were actually going to decrease the cost of pharmaceuticals. But when they vote on this legislation, within an hour, they are going to be breaking that promise to the Australian people. (Time expired)
~~Alan Griffin~~
This legislation—the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014—is ideology disguised as reform. This is bad policy. It is policy that is going to affect low-income earners. It is policy that is going to affect Indigenous Australians. It is policy that is going to affect people in regional and rural Australia. It is policy that was not exposed to scrutiny by the Australian people at the last election. We heard from those opposite that there were not going to be cuts in health. But I will give one thing to the then shadow Treasurer: he made a speech a year or so before, in London, where he said, 'The age of entitlement has to end,' and the circumstances were that things had to be done. In fact, in that speech he flagged co-payments around a range of different areas in the medical field. He flagged some of those things.
But where was it in the coalition's policy in the lead-up to the election? It just was not there. There was no mention. Since the election we have had Churchillian appeals to ensure that we must all suffer. But I tell you what: you are suffering a lot more if you have a young family and you need access to medical facilities, you are suffering a lot more if you are a senior citizen in a situation where you need essential medications and you are suffering a lot more if you are an Indigenous Australian who has difficulty in accessing health services. And this legislation is part of a series of initiatives.
I am not surprised that those opposite are not speaking up in favour of this. They just want it to go through—because they are embarrassed. Many of them, I believe, are ashamed. They know what is happening out in their electorates: the same thing that is happening in ours. When we go out there, front the community and talk about what is going on, what is happening in this parliament and what the government many of them voted for is doing—I can tell you what they are saying. They are saying: 'I did not vote for this. This is not what I thought I was getting. This is not what I was told by Tony Abbott. This is not what I was told by the local candidate for the coalition in the election campaign.' Instead they are getting these sorts of initiatives.
It is supposed to be, we hear, about sustainability and cost. Yet that flies in the face of what has been happening with PBS costs in recent years. The Labor government worked in consultation with the medicines industry to rein in PBS costs. Good reforms were done then—real reforms that delivered a cap, effectively, on the growth that was, for a while, quite unsustainable. In addition, if it really were about sustainability, what the government would be saying is: 'We are making this saving. We will take that money and put it into the area that we are trying to sustain.' But that is not where it is going. It is going into a medical research fund—and all we know about that is that we have a name for it, that it is going to cure everything and that it will happen down the track. That is cold comfort for the many people in Australian society who need access to medical services now, that is cold comfort for people in rural and regional Australia and that is cold comfort for Indigenous Australians who will be dealing with the pointy end of health reform—as this government calls it—in the years ahead.
The COAG Reform Council report released in early June made it clear that, when you increase costs to individuals, you can expect them to make choices—as we have seen in other jurisdictions. What we will see is as many as one in 10 people not accessing the medications that have been prescribed for them. These are not medications that they might like or medications that they think it might be fun to take; they are medications that have been prescribed for them by registered medical practitioners—experts and professionals in their fields who have taken the Hippocratic oath, which is all about providing people with the services they need to maintain their health and wellbeing. In question time today, a number of members of the opposition, including the member for Ballarat and the Leader of the Opposition, discussed a petition signed by many medical professionals. There has been a massive outcry from medical professionals, making it very clear that this is not good health policy.
Despite all that, this bill will get through this place. I note that the member for Dickson, the Minister for Health, has said that the Labor Party have supported co-payments for 50 years. It is true that we have supported co-payments in this area for 50 years, but the argument that all co-payments are the same is ridiculous. It is like arguing that all taxes are the same. It is a joke. (Time expired)
~~Long debate text truncated.~~