“Medicare is sustainable. The fact that we have increased spending on Medicare from when the Labor was last in government in 2012-13 from $19 billion to $31.4 billion in 22-23. I mean,it just shows that we have made a commitment year on year,” Ruston said.
“We have been increasing Medicare support for Australians.”
Asked again if she would rule out future cuts,Ruston said,“We absolutely guaranteed Medicare in law,absolutely guaranteed Medicare in law.”
Campaigning in Brisbane on Monday Albanese said,“This is a health minister now designate,if they’re successful in the election,who we know will undermine Medicare. Who has said that the current model is not sustainable,who has said that Medicare funding is just putting things on the credit card and that it needs to change.”
Albanese’s attack revives Labor’s effective Mediscare campaign from the 2016 election,which was widely attributed to electoral gains for the opposition.
Labor’s treasury spokesman,Jim Chalmers,doubled down on Albanese’s line of attack.
“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,” Chalmers said.