Julia Banks (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to talk about this matter today, as I see it as an opportunity to discuss how the Turnbull government is guaranteeing essential services Australians rely on. The Turnbull government is increasing funding for hospitals, medicines and Medicare. The only alternative approach from those opposite is to basically lie. Labor lies are intrinsically linked to their modus operandi when it comes to health. We saw their profound Labor lie before the 2016 election with regard to 'Mediscare'.

Unlike the Labor Party, we ensure a constructive, measured approach to economic management, and the proof is in the pudding. For example, with Medicare, there is the Turnbull government's Medicare guarantee. In relation to bulk-billing, the GP bulk-billing rate as at December 2017 is 85.8 per cent, up from 81.9 per cent in Labor's last year in government. Under the Turnbull government, more Australians are seeing their doctor without having to pay. Federal funding for hospital services under our government increased from $13.3 billion to a record $22.7 billion in 2021, a 64 per cent increase.

I have worked in the consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical industry for many years and, based on the number of patients' stories which I've witnessed firsthand, I know medical research and new medicines are something that literally changes people's lives. Since coming into government, the coalition has listed more than 1,500 new and amended medicines, worth approximately $9 billion. These medicines will assist people suffering from conditions such as heart disease, cystic fibrosis, cancer, psoriasis, epilepsy and severe asthma. This is unlike Labor's record of listings. The record will show that Labor gave listings of life-saving medicines very little attention. They put it on the backburner. Why? Because they can't manage the economy. If you can't manage the economy, you can't list life-saving medicines.

I'm a passionate advocate for mental health services for all Australians and so very proud to be part of the Turnbull government, which is committed to providing access for all Australians to the services they need to support their mental health and wellbeing. The government is investing $4.3 billion in mental health services this year. We're making significant investment in early intervention services.

Debate interrupted.

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