Mr BEAZLEY —My question is to the Prime Minister. If you are so worried about low income families with private health insurance, why are you giving them an extra $150 while you pocket $750?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —Nothing can alter the fact that 700,000 low income earners in this country have taken out—

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The Prime Minister has the call.

Mr HOWARD —Nothing can alter the fact—much and all as the Labor Party will rabbit on about millionaires and high income earners—that 700,000 people in this country who earn less than $20,000 a year have private health insurance. This is a debate about whether or not you believe in a dual health system in this country. It is perfectly obvious that the Labor Party believes in one system and one system alone—that is, the public health system. I happen to believe, and the members who sit behind me happen to believe, in both systems. I think Australia has a remarkably good public health system and I think the people who work in the public health system in Australia deserve our admiration and our unstinting praise.

Mr Bevis interjecting—

Mr HOWARD —That health system will be put under an intolerable strain if more and more Australians drop out of private health insurance. We do not intend to allow that to happen and the only way you can stop it happening is by giving people a greater incentive to stay in it. That is why we have introduced a non-means tested incentive for Australians to stay in private health insurance. I tell those who sit opposite that, if you imagine your attack on private health insurance is going down well in the electorate, you are even more out of touch than I thought you were.

Mr SPEAKER —I remind the members for Dobell and Brisbane that I have given them a great deal of latitude. I call the honourable member for Sturt.