Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

COKER () (): The Albanese government is committed to improving the health outcomes of Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas. We on this side of the House recognise that, by strengthening Medicare, we can support more people across our regions to get the care they need and deserve. Our government's ongoing commitment to improving access to health care across Australia is reflected in our 2024-25 budget, which provides $2.8 billion to further strengthen Medicare. This is in addition to the historic $6.1 billion investment in Medicare in the 2023-24 budget.

These investments address the pressing challenges in our healthcare system. We recognise that, after a decade of coalition neglect of Medicare and our health system, it has become harder and more expensive to see a GP. The former Liberal government froze bulk-billing rates and decimated primary care, including in rural and remote areas. They ripped billions of dollars out of public hospitals, which has had a lasting and devastating impact on Australians living outside major cities.

It's no secret that general practice was in its most parlous condition in the 40-year history of our system when we came to government. Under the Liberals it had never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor, and bulk-billing was in sharp decline. That's why our government acted swiftly with a historic investment in Medicare. The GP bulk-billing rate has risen by 3.9 percentage points in regional, remote and rural areas in the first five months since our government provided $3.5 billion to triple the bulk-billing incentive. The increase in the bulk-billing rate is achieving results with Australians in our regions, who are taking on an extra 550,000 trips to GP bulk-billed services since 1 November last year. For locals in my electorate of Corangamite, this has meant an additional 26,400 bulk-billed visits to the GP since November 2023.

As a result of this year's budget Australians living in the regions will benefit from a $213 million package that will deliver cheaper medicines, more access to scans and other tests, more Medicare urgent care clinics, more free mental health services and more investments in our health workforce, along with telehealth services in the regions. The measures in our budget include $17.4 million to support health services at risk of closing; $74.8 million to support the rural flying doctor service, which will continue to ensure primary care and dental services are accessible to more Australians across more remote communities; and expansion in free medical health services, ensuring Australians get the right level of care for their level of distress, including for those living in our regions. Importantly our government provided funds of more than $1.8 billion for programs that develop the workforce and support a more balanced distribution of health professionals in areas of need.

The 2023-24 budget took the first steps in supporting our highly trained health workforce. This included a number of new incentives and additional payments to promote and secure more doctors in rural and remote communities. We are already seeing the benefits of this investment, with a significant increase in junior doctors starting as GP trainees in this year alone as well as an oversubscribed rural generalist training scheme to build our rural workforce. The extra GP training places will see more doctors living, working and training outside our major cities while providing care to people in our regions. Our government will continue to build on this progress.

Labor governments have a proud history of investment in the health of all Australians. Our support for GPs in the regions and our ongoing investment in Medicare and bulk-billing build on this legacy and demonstrate the Albanese government's commitment to a stronger healthcare system for all Australians.

See this speech in context