TRANSCRIPT
Interview with Sally Sara, ABC Radio National Breakfast
10 February 2025
Topics: Women’s health funding package, Labor’s Mediscare lies, primary care crisis, PM’s failure to negotiate a new 5-year hospital funding agreement
E&OE…………………………………
Sally Sara: Well, as you've heard earlier, the Coalition has matched Labor's half a billion-dollar women's health plan announced at the weekend, and wants to talk up its record on women's health. Heading into the election, the Opposition is hoping to win back female voters who abandoned it at the last election. They're also facing yet another Labor campaign which claims that only the Government will safeguard Medicare. Anne Ruston is the Shadow Health Minister and joins me now. Anne Ruston, welcome back to Radio National Breakfast.
Anne Ruston: Thanks, Sally.
Sally Sara: The Opposition, you've matched Labor's policy almost immediately after it was announced yesterday. Had you had much of a chance to look at it before the announcement was made?
Anne Ruston: Yes. Well, obviously we had a quick chance to have a look at the policy that was put forward by the Government. But obviously, we've had the opportunity to have a look at the two inquiries that were undertaken in the Senate, and we've listened to women across Australia about some of the issues that were most important to them. And certainly, in my short time as the Shadow Minister for Health, there has been two issues that have been constantly raised. One is around the debilitating condition of endometriosis and the support for women, particularly young women, who live with this condition every month of their lives. And also, supporting women going through menopause because we know that it can be an extraordinarily debilitating time for many women. So, we were pleased to be able to come out yesterday quickly and say that we will match the Government's commitment, because it builds on the work that we were doing in government. But it also, I think, provides the certainty and the support for Australia's women going forward.
Sally Sara: Why didn't the Coalition have a package of its own?
Anne Ruston: Well, we had a package in the last election. In fact, we were the ones that put forward the first endometriosis package to support the establishment of the clinics, the pelvic pain clinics, which was something that came out of the endometriosis plan.
Sally Sara: But beyond that?
Anne Ruston: Well, we put forward quite a substantial package going into the last election in relation to broader women's health policy, including putting forward the Women's Health Strategy 2020 - 2030, which obviously we're delighted that this government has decided to continue on with. Obviously, going into the election, we will be looking - We will be making announcements over coming weeks. But I'm very pleased with what the Government has announced, as I said, because it was very similar to what we would have been considering putting on the table.
Sally Sara: Does the Coalition, can you give any guarantees that health will not be cut if the Coalition comes into government?
Anne Ruston: I can absolutely rule that out. There is no way, we have - Our track record speaks for itself. We have always increased funding for Medicare and in government we will continue to do so. Peter Dutton has been very clear about that. I've been very clear about it. And our record, I think, speaks for itself. And no amount of scare campaigns that are put forward by this government actually alter the facts. And we've actually even resorted to having to put up a facts website to make sure that Australians have got access to the truth, because we know that there are lies being circulated at the moment that have got no basis in fact whatsoever, and we hope Australians will listen to the truth and actually seek out the facts for themselves. Because I don't like the fact that this government is prepared to lie to Australians about health, which is so important to them.
Sally Sara: Do you think previous announcements - I remember the interview with Tony Abbott where he was saying there wouldn't be cuts to health or also to the ABC and SBS, that was all kind of bundled together. Is that still lingering, do you think?
Anne Ruston: We're looking forward to making sure that we are delivering for Australians. Right now, we have a primary care crisis that has never been worse. I mean, I'm sure your listeners would agree with me. It's never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor. The great tragedy of the last few years is last year 1.5 million Australians avoided going to see the doctor because they said they simply couldn't afford to do so. The crisis that we're talking about is before us right now and we must be looking forward to ways that we can support primary care, because part of the reason we've got a problem with our hospital system is because people are sicker. So therefore, by the time they look for treatment, they're actually having to turn up at a hospital.
Sally Sara: Anne Ruston, do you believe that surgical abortion should be made available at all public hospitals that are large enough to conduct the surgery?
Anne Ruston: Well, this is an issue for the states and territories. It's the way it has always been. But one of the biggest issues, as I said, that I am focussed on at the moment, is making sure that primary care is dealt with. We want to make sure that women have got access to their doctor in the first place because it's through that medically informed process that women are able to see their GP, that we know that their health outcomes are improved. So, I'm very focussed on primary care.
Sally Sara: On other issues, Anne Ruston, I'm thinking of things like education and other areas. We were just to our political correspondent Melissa Clarke. This is always the dilemma for funding for federal governments, and conditions are often tied on funding that goes through the delivery of the states. Why not insist that surgical abortion be available at public hospitals that have the capacity?
Anne Ruston: Well, as you said, it is a state and territory issue. It is the way our federated system has always operated. And, you know, as I said, we are - The responsibility of the federal government is very, very clearly around primary care. The crisis that we have in our health system at the moment is because of the lack of access to primary care, or the affordability of primary care. So right now, the Federal Government, as is the Opposition, should absolutely be focusing on dealing with that crisis, because if that crisis is solved, so many other things along the chain will able to be solved, including things like making sure that we don't see the ambulances ramped outside hospitals that we currently are, hospitals in states and territories screaming out for extra money. The cause is the primary care crisis, and that is my focus.
Sally Sara: We've only got 30 seconds to go. What will the Coalition be offering the states to get a deal done when it comes to a five-year hospital funding agreement?
Anne Ruston: Well, you make a very good point. I mean, we were very disappointed to see that it was only a one-year agreement. It's a failure of this government and the Prime Minister's weakness that he couldn't even negotiate a deal for five years with his state and territory counterparts. But it is very important that we give certainty to our states and territories, and a five-year agreement will be absolutely a priority should we be elected to government.
Sally Sara: Anne Ruston, thank you very much for your time this morning.
Anne Ruston: Thanks, Sally.
ENDS
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