More Liberal MPs promise to fight IVF cuts

PM - Thursday, 28 April , 2005 18:27:11

Reporter: Louise Yaxley

MARK COLVIN: The issue of funding for in vitro fertilisation is providing new proof that even a
government with control of both Houses can hit a speed bump or two.

Yet more members of the Federal Coalition have promised to fight any limits to IVF funding in the
Budget.

The Government is considering limiting Medicare funded IVF to three cycles a year for women under
the age of 42, and a total of three cycles in all for women over 42.

The Prime Minister's given a strong indication that the Government is contemplating the cuts, he's
pointed to the Safety Net which helps meet out-of-pocket medical expenses and said "nothing in life
is completely free".

But the Prime Minister's apparent backing for new limits has failed to silence Coalition MPs who
are putting up a growing fight against cuts to Medicare IVF.

Louise Yaxley reports.

LOUISE YAXLEY: The strongest outburst today against the suggestion of Medicare limits on IVF has
come from the Liberal MP Peter Slipper.

He's highly critical of the proposal and says it can't be justified on the basis of how much it
would save.

PETER SLIPPER: My argument is we're talking about a piddling $7 million to assist couples who want
to have children to have children.

I mean, this is the saving that would be made if this proposed change is made.

I just want to... I want to plea... I want to make a plea to the Health Minister not to include this in
the Budget. I have an enormously high regard for Tony Abbott, I think he's an outstanding minister,
he's a friend of mine, but I was just shocked when I read about this proposed change.

I just believe that it really is important for the Government to understand the trauma that so many
couples are going through.

The State Liberal Women's Council of New South Wales unanimously opposed any change to the access
to IVF, and I just think that between now and the Budget, the Government ought to reconsider.

It's not as though hundreds of millions of dollars are going to saved - $7 million - an absolutely
pathetically small amount of money, and it would be tragic if so many couples who want to have
children, want the privilege of parenthood were denied that because of a miserable cost cutting
measure which would save a pathetic $7 million.

LOUISE YAXLEY: Other Liberals are also speaking out.

South Australian Senator Jeannie Ferris says at a time when the birth rate's falling, access to IVF
should be based on medical criteria not the age of the applicant. She says it would be regrettable
if Medicare became an issue of age rather than medical assessment.

Senator Ferris says she looks forward to a party room debate on the issue.

And it will be interesting when the party room meets in just over a week.

The Prime Minister's given every indication he favours a limit.

JOHN HOWARD: We listen to all points of view, but in the end you have to balance the generous
financial provision with the need to make sure that there's a reasonable regard for the cost of
everything as far as the taxpayer is concerned.

Nothing in life is completely free, nor should it be, but when it comes to supporting IVF
treatments we have a Safety Net. Labor would abolish the Safety Net.

LOUISE YAXLEY: But Peter Slipper openly admits he's not following any party line on this one.

PETER SLIPPER: The Government would obviously like me to say this is Budget speculation, and I
really ought not to comment on it, but let me tell you, quite frankly, I would be absolutely
appalled if this proposed change was in fact included in the Budget, because the Government really
ought not to be denying many people who are desperate to have children the privilege of being
parents.

Now, the Federal Government funds 100,000 abortions each year through the Medicare system, and
we've got a range of views in the community on this, but I find it difficult to understand that
there's an uncapped ability to kill unborn children, and yet on the other hand there seems to be
this suggestion that in some way, shape or form the creation of life through the IVF program should
be limited.

LOUISE YAXLEY: When the Budget's handed down in 12 days' time, it'll become clear whether the
Government has been using the political tactic of getting the bad news out of the way early or
simply testing the water to see how strong the public response would be to such Medicare limits.

MARK COLVIN: Louise Yaxley.