Ms GILLARD (2:07 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, isn’t it a fact that the Parliamentary Library is independent and authoritative? Minister, isn’t it also a fact that the library’s guide to the Medibank Private Sale Bill 2006 specifically rejects the conclusion of the government’s paid lawyers that ‘the Commonwealth would not be liable to pay compensation’ to Medibank Private members? Minister, doesn’t this library advice prove that your government is determined to sell Medibank Private despite the fact that Medibank Private members have an arguable legal claim to more than half a billion dollars of the net assets of Medibank Private?

Mr ABBOTT (Minister for Health and Ageing) —I certainly agree with the member for Lalor that the library is a marvellous institution, but it is not infallible and the government prefers its own professional legal advice, as you would expect. We prefer the professional legal advice of our distinguished legal advisers to that of the library.

Mr Brendan O’Connor interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Gorton is warned!

Mr ABBOTT —I simply reiterate the point that this government believes that a privatised Medibank Private will be good for the health sector, will be good for the policyholders and will generally put downward pressure on premiums. We believe—along with the CEO of the NIB fund, Mr Mark Fitzgerald—that this is a very good policy.