Liberal’s answer: はいThe Coalition will continue to support the expansion of headspace to 100 centres nation-wide. This was an important initiative established by the previous Coalition government when Tony Abbott was the Minister for Health.
Increasingly, young people are in the first instance seeking advice and help online. Finding the right help is not easy, so the Coalition will provide the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre with $5 million to establish a comprehensive new e-mental health platform that will make it easier for young people to get the help they need and to manage their treatmentSource
Liberal’s answer: はいThe Government has put nearly 1,000 new and amended drug listings onto the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, ensuring these life-saving medicines are available to all Australians, including:
Keytruda, which is used to treat Melanoma;
Mekinist, which is used to treat positive Metastatic Melanoma; and
Perjeta, Herceptin and Kadcyla, which are used to treat Breast Cancer.
The Government has also invested $1 billion to subsidise breakthrough treatments for all sufferers of Hepatitis C. These treatments would cost $100,000 per patient if not subsidised through the PBS.Source
Liberal’s answer: はいTen years ago we were spending $8 billion a year on Medicare. Today we're spending $20 billion. So we are asking everyone to make a modest contribution to ensure that Medicare is sustainable for the long term. From 1 July 2015, previously bulk billed patients will contribute $7 towards the cost of standard GP consultations. A strong safety net will be put in place - concession card holders and children under 16 will only pay the contribution for the first 10 visits each year. The Government won't waste this money. Every dollar of savings in health expenditure in the Budget will be re-invested back into the Medical Research Future Fund.Source
