Medicare argument with PM 'gossip': Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey says it was better to scuttle a planned $20 Medicare rebate rather than face bad ramifications.

Joe Hockey

Tresurer Joe Hockey (AAP)

Treasurer Joe Hockey says reports he argued with the prime minister over a scuttled $20 Medicare rebate cut are just gossip.

News Corp Australia reported Tony Abbott pushed on with the $20 cut despite heated opposition from Mr Hockey, and former health minister Peter Dutton, before it was ultimately scrapped amid a public and doctor backlash.

When asked if the report was wrong, Mr Hockey refused to comment.

"I'm not going to engage in discussion on gossip," Mr Hockey told Fairfax Radio on Monday.

"Sometimes it's better to reverse a position than continue with a decision that's going to have bad ramifications."

Mr Hockey said 2015 would be about "jobs and families", and said lower petrol prices had put money back in family pockets.

He also said changes to the GST were unlikely without agreement from Labor and state governments.

"In relation to the GST it is our very strong view you've got to have unanimous agreement," Mr Hockey said.


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Source: AAP


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