Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to acknowledge the member for Lyne for the outstanding motion he moved in the chamber today. The truth is that since 2013 this government has unequivocally demonstrated that there is only one side of politics in Australia which has the pragmatic approach to reform and the strong economic management required to protect and expand Medicare—that is, of course, the Liberal-National coalition. The Member for Lyne highlighted many of the national statistics which make this clear, but people living in my electorate of Fisher have seen it for themselves in the services provided every day in our community.

When the coalition took office in 2013 there were 195 GPs providing Medicare funded services in the southern and central parts of the Sunshine Coast. Today there are 260. The government's funding of Medicare in my electorate has increased over that time from $133.3 million to $174.6 million last year—and those opposite call that a cut! This increase in funding has been reflected in the delivery of appointments on the ground. Today, the GP bulk-billing rate in Fisher stands at an impressive high of 88.5 per cent, with 960,161 bulk-billed services delivered in 2017-18. This compares to just 774,000 the last time Labor were in government. That is not to mention the extra $12.1 million the government is spending per year in Fisher on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

However, I'd like to speak to the Medicare reform of this government that is, perhaps, closest to my heart—the transformative changes we've made in mental health and, in particular, the treatment for people living with eating disorders, changes which today are already bringing hope to thousands of vulnerable people. In June 2018 the Minister for Health came to Fisher and joined me in visiting the Lake Kawana General Practice. There we met with Lexie Crouch, a courageous survivor of one of the most brutal of these insidious conditions, and Christine Morgan, who was the then CEO of the Butterfly Foundation. The minister was in Fisher to announce a $3.2 million pilot program, to be administered and evaluated by that foundation, which would provide, for the first time, specialist Medicare supported treatment for people living with an eating disorder. I strongly advocated for a treatment program like this on the Sunshine Coast which would comprehensively address the multifaceted needs of people with an eating disorder. I've had many valuable conversations on the subject with the Minister for Health, who I know shares my passion for tackling these most deadly of mental health conditions. In the end, the pilot came to Fisher.

With the coalition government's support, my community is becoming increasingly recognised as a national leader in eating disorder treatment. The Sunshine Coast is home to endED, a life-changing charity founded by Mark and Gayle Forbes, which for years has delivered much-needed support through its recovery coaches Millie Thomas and, more recently, Laura Chamberlain. With $6.2 million in coalition government support, the coast will also shortly also be home to endED Butterfly House, which will be Australia's first ever residential facility for treating people suffering from severe eating disorders. I was pleased that the Minister for Health chose Fisher for this pilot, but I was even more pleased to see what a success it had been and the crucial national outcome that had resulted. From Friday 1 November this year, thanks to this government, the Morrison government, the kinds of treatments offered under the trial in my community are now available to all Australians.

Through the government's 64 new Medicare Benefits Schedule items and with $110.7 million in new investment to support them, eligible people living with eating disorders all over Australia now have access to Medicare rebates of up to 60 treatment sessions each and every year. For people living with conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia and other complex eating disorders, this includes up to 40 sessions of psychological treatment and 20 sessions for dietetics. That's every 12 months. They'll also be able to claim rebates for sessions to develop an eating disorder treatment and management plan, regular GP reviews of their progress and a formal specialist review. Under this government we have made lasting changes to Medicare, particularly for those suffering from eating disorders, and I'm very proud to be part of it.

See this speech in context