Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My speech in the debate tonight is on a very special birthday that just passed: the 41st birthday of Medicare, an extraordinary social program that has changed the lives of millions of Australians. Since its introduction in 1984 by the Hawke Labor government, Medicare has transformed the lives of millions, ensuring that access to quality health care is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy but a fundamental right of all Australians. Medicare's journey began with a vision that no Australian should have to choose between their health and financial security. When the system was introduced under the Hawke government, it faced significant political and ideological opposition, yet the idea behind it was simple—that health care should be available to all, regardless of income, social status or geographic location.

Prior to Medicare, access to health care in Australia was largely dependent on private insurance or personal financial means. A lengthy hospital stay before Medicare could cause significant financial distress for people on low or no income. If you could afford private insurance, depending on how long you paid for it, it could run out during your hospital stay. The establishment of Medicare was a bold and necessary step towards eliminating these disparities, and change the healthcare system it certainly did. It ensured every Australian and permanent resident had access to essential healthcare services and necessary treatments without the financial burden.

One of the greatest strengths of Medicare is bulk-billing for GPs. This has made primary health care more accessible, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, students, and low-income families. Medicare also plays a crucial role in funding Australia's public hospitals, ensuring that emergency and essential medical services are available to all. Public hospitals provide world-class care, from life-saving surgeries to chronic disease management, without the financial stress that often accompanies private health care in other nations.

Alongside Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ensures that Australians have affordable access to necessary medications. For many people in my country living with chronic conditions, life-saving drugs available on the PBS at a fraction of their actual cost are literally crucial for their survival, preventing financial hardship for those with chronic illness and other serious health conditions.

This is a government that values Medicare and the health of all Australians. The Albanese Labor government is continuing to improve our health system, strengthening Medicare, easing cost-of-living pressures with cheaper medicines and embedding new mental health services in Medicare. Just yesterday there was a phenomenal announcement of the delivery of an additional $1.7 billion to fund public hospitals and health services next year. This funding will be delivered to states and territories to help cut waiting lists, reducing waiting times in emergency rooms and managing ramping. We have built 87 Medicare urgent care clinics, relieving pressure on emergency rooms and helping people seeking care when their GPs are closed. These clinics are open from 8 am until 10 pm, Monday through to Sunday, providing access to medical support that doesn't clog up the hospital system—and all you need is your Medicare card.

My community is fortunate. We have the Frankston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which I've been working hard to promote to make sure local people in Dunkley are aware of it. There have been nearly 27,000 visits to this clinic in Frankston as of 13 January 2024. We have invested record amounts into bulk-billing and created an additional 103,000 bulk-billed visits to the GP every week, on average, or 5.4 million additional bulk-billed visits since November 2023. This means there have been an additional 36,000 bulk-billed visits to GPs in Dunkley as a result of our tripling of the bulk-billing incentive.

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