QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:31): On this side of the chamber we do know how important Medicare is, because it means Australians seeing a GP for free and cheaper medicines when they need them. But it seems that Medicare is a more mysterious concept for those opposite. Senator Ruston recently wrote to the department, asking, 'What is Medicare?' Well, Senator, Medicare looks after Australians when they need it the most.

Funnily enough, when we look around the chamber today, those opposite are showing some signs of needing Medicare themselves. The Liberal Party is presenting with a textbook and worrying case of policy malaise. The symptoms are very obvious—no aged-care policy taken to the election last time, a bizarre enthusiasm for higher taxes and now the entire party running a fever trying to out 'nation' One Nation.

They're well past bulk-billing; this is a case for emergency. (Time expired)