Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to congratulate the Minister for Health and Aged Care for introducing the National Health Amendment (General Co-Payment) Bill 2022. This is a really momentous health bill. It demonstrates to all the measured approach of the Albanese Labor government to our program that we will put in place over the next three years. It also continues Labor's history of understanding health care in Australia, supporting health care in Australia and making sure Australians have access to the best affordable health care around the world.

Australia has had a wonderful record in health, thanks to Labor governments. From the introduction of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by the Curtin and Chifley Labor governments in 1949 to the introduction of Medibank by Gough Whitlam in 1973, which we know was destroyed by the Fraser government subsequently and was reinstated as Medicare by the Hawke government in 1984—the year I started my private practice—

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