Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will name Anne Ruston as his new health and aged care minister should the Coalition be re-elected, as the campaign focus turns to health policy.
However, the appointment has drawn criticism from Labor, who said her appointment would mean cuts to Medicare.
Senator Ruston, who is currently the social services minister along and women's safety minister, will replace Greg Hunt, who is retiring from politics.
"Anne has demonstrated the stakeholder management, the financial skills, but most important having a big heart to be able to deal with the many issues that you need to deal with in the health portfolio," Mr Morrison said during a media conference outside the Children's Hospital in Westmead, Sydney.
"I think she'll make a fine successor to Greg, should the Australian people wish to return us to government on 21 May."
Senator Ruston said it's an "absolute honour" to be given the Coalition's health portfolio should it win re-election.
“I follow in big footsteps and big shoes ... a man who will be recognised into the future as the greatest health minister this country has ever had," she said.
Earlier on Sunday, Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume threw her support behind the appointment.
"I am so pleased for her [Ms Ruston]. She is a highly qualified and highly experienced member of our cabinet," she told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.
"She has dealt with the portfolio in social services as a very successful minister there, dealing with what's important to millions of people's lives. So I think she will be a terrific appointment."
But the appointment drew criticism from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, who said it signals the Coalition, if re-elected, would make cuts to Medicare.
Speaking to the media after attending a church service in Cairns, Mr Albanese said Senator Ruston "has made it clear that she wants to take the universal out of universal healthcare".
"She has made it very clear that, if we have a re-election of the Morrison government, we will see more cuts to Medicare, more cuts to Medicare over the next three years," he said.
Greg Hunt and Anne Ruston, who will replace him as federal health minister if the Coalition is re-elected, at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS
"I think the comments you were referring to were back in 2014, and we are standing here today, having come through a pandemic with an extraordinarily strong economy ... I think we have demonstrated as a government that it is a strong economy that affords the supports that Australians rely on," she said.
When asked what has changed now, given higher debt levels, Senator Ruston said: "I think our policies as they relate to healthcare and economy are all clearly laid out for everyone to see, going forward.
"Our government has been absolutely clear we are not cutting Medicare. In fact, I think our track record - in terms of the increased spending across all elements of our healthcare system - stand for themselves."
Mr Morrison said he would not announce who will replace Senator Ruston in her current portfolios until after the election.
Major parties commit to diabetes funding
After attending a church service in his home seat of Cook in Sydney on Sunday, Mr Morrison and Mr Hunt also announced a $273 million commitment to make the treatment of type 1 diabetes more affordable.
The funding commitment would subsidise continuous glucose monitoring devices for all Australians living with type 1 diabetes.
“Our plan for a strong economy means we can invest in life-changing equipment for diabetes patients and make more medicines cheaper for more Australians,” Mr Morrison said.
The opposition spokesman for health, Mark Butler, said Labor would match the government's announcement - a bipartisan commitment that has been welcomed by Diabetes Australia.
“Continuous and flash glucose monitors are life-saving and life-changing for people living with type 1 diabetes,” Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said.
“This is smart policy that will save the health system millions in the long run."
The federal government also spruiked its investment of more than $60 million in mental health and suicide prevention in Western Australia, following a bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the state governments.
Mr Hunt said the deal will see the delivery of new health services for children as well as support for people following a suicide attempt, and those with eating disorders.
"This landmark partnership ... will have a significant impact on the lives of many Australians across the state, including young Australians and children who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
"It will help save lives and protect lives."
Labor on Saturday announced it would provide $14.8 million to support Melanoma Institute Australia to deliver melanoma nurses across every state and territory.
Labor, Greens questioned on health policy costings
On Sunday, Mr Albanese was asked again about which he said will offer an alternative to busy hospital emergency departments for families.
The clinics will treat patients needing urgent medical attention, including broken bones, minor burns and stitches for cuts, to free up congested emergency departments.
Questions have been raised about the policy's costings, and how it would be staffed.
Mr Albanese said the plan is not expected to lead to any additional cost on the Medicare Benefits Schedule [MBS].
"You will see that when all of our costings will be released for every policy [of ours]. We are doing policy in exactly the same way as Liberal oppositions have done for election after election," he said.
The Greens were also questioned on a plan to add dental to Medicare at a cost of $77.6 billion over a decade - the equivalent of $8 billion a year.
on 6 April, Greens leader Adam Bandt said it would be funded by taxes on billionaires and large corporations.
Mr Bandt was questioned on Sunday on the costings done by the Parliamentary Budget Office, which concluded there was a high degree of uncertainty on the Greens' policy of a billionaire's tax.
He conceded there is uncertainty over the policy, telling Channel Nine's Today show that compliance would be an issue.
"Because of course, they'll [billionaires will] do whatever they can to try and avoid paying tax. Another way of funding it [the dental plan] is making the big corporations pay their fair share, which brings in over $330 billion over the decade."
With AAP.
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