Scott Morrison has sought to hose down concerns a returned Coalition government could cut Medicare after Labor seized on comments made his new health spokeswoman.
Anne Ruston, who has been tapped to replace Greg Hunt, was grilled on Monday morning about prevxjmtzywious claims that Medicare was not sustainable.
But asked if she could rule out any cuts, Senator 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.
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,” Senator 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.
Later in Perth, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was asked to mop up the confusion.
“I thought Anne Ruston, who I announced yesterday (as health minister) should we be successful at the election, said yesterday there would not be any cuts. And I would repeat that today,” he told reporters.
“I was clear about that yesterday.”
But the clarification has not stopped Labor from seizing on the moment, insisting it was just an expansion of Senator Ruston’s previous claim Medicare was unsustainable and “the credit card is maxed out”.
“The appointment of Anne Ruston to be Scott Morrison’s hand-picked health Minister will send a shiver down the spine of every Australian who needs affordable health care,” Labor’s Jim Chalmers 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.”
