Chaos at Question Time: Dozens of pharmacists dressed in white come out of Parliament and heckle the government calling it “liars”
Pharmacists and their allies stormed out of parliament and heckled the government as a ‘liar’ in chaotic scenes to kick off the new sitting week.
Health Minister Mark Butler kicked off the government’s cheaper drugs policy during Question Time in the House of Representatives on Monday when he angered dozens of protesters – all dressed in white – in the observation stand.
Seconds after Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley accused the government of ‘squeezing thousands of dollars from community pharmacies’, all the white coats rose in unison and left the room in waterspout.
The group booed and jeered at the government, with some raising their middle fingers while others gave a “thumbs down” sign.
Calls for “liar” echoed through the hall from protesters, as Speaker Milton Dick tried in vain to restore order to the House.
The protesters were joined by the opposition who also started shouting against the government, pointing fingers and calling attention to the gallery.
The protesters were joined by the opposition who also started shouting against the government, pointing fingers and calling attention to the gallery.
It was the second blast to come from the gallery and prompted quick action by security guards, who helped direct protesters out of the viewing area and to stand on the stairs.
House Leader Tony Burke later claimed that parliamentary staff had been “subjected to verbal abuse from members of the public gallery” – a situation which will now be reviewed.
Mr Dick said: “I warned those present in the gallery at the start of Question Time today that they should not participate or intervene during Question Time.
“Because of their behavior, they left the room. I want to say it in the future: there will be no interjection from the gallery.
“For the rest of this week — and for the rest of my time as president — that won’t happen again.”
These demonstrators had previously gathered outside Parliament to protest against the government’s new prescription policy.
The policy will allow patients to receive PBS prescriptions for 60 days at the same price as their current 30-day prescriptions, a move that pharmacists fear will force them to let staff go and even close shop.
But it should benefit four million Australians living with chronic health conditions.
Butler said the program would bring much-needed cost reduction to people wanting to get the care they need.
“People with a Medicare card who buy just one of these drugs will save up to $180 each year. Concession card holders will save $43.80 per year for each eligible drug,” he said.
The group booed and jeered at the government, with some raising their middle fingers while others gave a “thumbs down” sign.
The Pharmacy Guild has consistently opposed the dispensation framework, saying it would force local pharmacies in regional areas to close.
Earlier, National Leader David Littleproud had met with these protesters, thanking them for being “the heroes of the pandemic”.
He said: “The men and women who stayed in our communities and who are now rejected by this government because it is politically expedient and saves them money.
“What kind of government is doing this to medical professionals, which has allowed us to overcome one of the greatest challenges this country has ever faced since World War II? But for the Nationals, let me say, it’s deeply personal.
Mr Littleproud is concerned about the viability of the 400 pharmacies that provide the “last line of defense for primary healthcare” in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
The Pharmacists Guild – which strongly opposes the policy – issued a statement immediately after the chaos, distancing itself from the protesters.
‘The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is not and has never been involved in hosting any events in Canberra today,’ the statement read.
