Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a great privilege to rise today and speak on this motion that was moved by the member for Aston—and I'll get to some of her contribution shortly. But let's be absolutely clear: this motion is an attack on the Leader of the Opposition and a desperate revival of the 'Mediscare' campaign that we saw in 2016. The coalition has a proud track record in relation to government investment in the health of our nation, including in Medicare, and it's important to use this opportunity to state some of the facts about how the coalition actually run health in Australia.

As I said, what we've seen today is essentially a desperate attempt to resuscitate that disgraced 'Mediscare' campaign. What actually happened when the coalition was in government was that we increased hospital funding from $13.3 billion to $22.7 billion; we had $537 billion in the forward estimates, which included things like a $7.3 billion increase in Medicare and a $10.1 billion increase in aged care; and we added and amended 2,800 PBS medicines. And whilst the Leader of the Opposition was the health minister—which the current Labor government like to refer to quite frequently—one of the key things that he did was start the Medical Research Future Fund to the tune of $20 billion.

Another fun fact which is frequently overlooked by those opposite is that, whilst the Leader of the Opposition was the health minister, Medicare bulk-billing rates were actually at about 84 per cent. And, as we had confirmed in question time recently, under the previous coalition government bulk-billing rates actually reached 88 per cent. Incredibly—you wouldn't believe this—under the Labor government they are down to 77 per cent. So, whilst Labor talks a big game on managing Medicare and delivering health services, the numbers just don't stack up.

It's also interesting that they continue to refer to their Medicare urgent care clinics as one of the key planks in how they're increasing bulk-billing services. So I thought I'd use a little local example from the electorate of Fadden. It is in the suburb of Oxenford, which is tucked in neatly next to the M1 and is home to some of our favourite theme parks.

In Oxenford you will find a Medicare urgent care clinic. But here's the thing. I remember something from some time ago. In November 2013 a previous Labor government opened the Gold Coast's first GP super clinic at Oxenford—miraculously! It is located at No. 2, Leo Graham Way, Oxenford. Now, that is incredible. You wouldn't think that, 10 years later, to the month, Health Minister Butler, in November 2023, would announce a Medicare urgent care clinic at No. 2 Leo Graham Way, Oxenford. There are striking similarities. They are in the same building. They do the same thing. They provide bulk-billing services with longer hours. What have we got? We have got a GP super clinic that was rebadged as a Medicare urgent care clinic. There has been no increase in patient numbers. This is the same service in the same building, which the health minister is dressing up as a new initiative to deliver on an election commitment. Actually, it is completely misleading the Australian people.

The coalition has a proud record on health. With this motion, Labor are, typically, trying to search for a corflute slogan for the upcoming election. They should spend less time trying to attack the coalition and more time trying to fix the health system. Australians know the coalition can be trusted on health.

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