Anne Ruston has stopped short of categorically ruling out future Medicare cuts, setting the stage for a Labor scare campaign on health.
The minister tapped to replace Greg Hunt was grilled on Monday morning about previous claims that Medicare was “not sustainable”.
But asked if she could rule out any cuts, Ms Ruston seemed less certain.
“Are you cutting Medicare, because history tells us you seem to be having a little (bet) each way on that one?” Today host Karl Stefanovic asked.
“First and foremost, this government … actually guaranteed Medicare and Medicare is something that’s a really important part of the Australian landscape,” she responded.
“Universal healthcare is something that is an absolute underpinning policy of this government.”
But the answer did not satisfy Mr Stefanovic, who continued: “OK. I'm not sure that you answered it. Are you cutting Medicare or categorically no cuts to Medicare?”
“No, we are … we are the party that guaranteed Medicare,” Ms Ruston added.
In an earlier interview with ABC’s AM, host Sabra Lane also took the minister to task on the issue, asking three times before being told the government had “absolutely guaranteed Medicare”.
“This just appears to be a desperate scare campaign by the Labor Party,” she said.
During a debate on the GP co-payment, floated in Joe Hockey’s cut-heavy 2014 budget, Ms Ruston said the scheme in its current form was not sustainable and “the credit card is maxed out”.
Asked about the comments on Monday, Ms Ruston said she believed it was now sustainable.
“It‘s through this strong economic management, it didn’t happen by accident but through strong economic management that we are able to guarantee those essential services and no service is more essential than healthcare,” she said.
Meanwhile, Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Moy has slammed both of the major parities as being “piecemeal” and “superficial” on health.
Speaking with ABC’s Radio National, Dr Moy said each side needed to up the ante on health.
“We're gonna see really who’s the true friend of Medicare,” he said.
“At the moment all we’re seeing is negatives from both parties.
“The Liberal Party has done nothing in health really substantial But on the same side the Labor Party who claim to be the friend of Medicare so far have relatively piecemeal or superficial policies.”
