Health Minister Sussan Ley claims subsidising paracetamol that can be bought cheaply without a prescription is costing the government $73 million a year.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull claims Australian farmers are among the least subsidised in the world.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten claims the level of subsides provided to car makers in Australia is lower than in other countries.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia's assistance to the car manufacturing industry is one of the lowest in the world. He claims car industry assistance is $18 per head per year in Australia, $90 in the United States and $96 in Germany.

John Menadue and Ian McAuley look at how government handouts to the private health insurance industry put subsidies to the auto industry in the shade.