Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health. How are Medicare Locals delivering fair and better access to health care and are there any obstacles in the way of Medicare Locals continuing the great work they do in my community and in others?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to first thank the member for Chifley for his question. We had some good news for patients today: we saw that bulk-billing rates are up to 82 per cent. That puts them at equal historic highs. Indeed, in the member for Chifley's electorate, 99.1 per cent of GP services are bulk-billed—a phenomenal achievement, and a sharp contrast with the 67 per cent rock-bottom rates reached when the Leader of the Opposition was the health minister. We all remember how he slashed training places, leading to doctor shortages.

Sadly, times have not changed—because the party that killed Medibank now wants to kill Medicare Locals. Australians are rightly proud of our universal health system, and Medicare Locals are the logical extension of our universal system. The decisions are made by local doctors, local nurses, local health workers, communities and patients—decisions made by communities themselves rather than a one-size-fits-all approach from Canberra. All of this is helping make a stronger, smarter, fairer Australia.

Last week we had confirmation from those opposite that of those local health workers, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, podiatrists, speech pathologists and pharmacists, thousands will get the sack if Tony Abbott ever becomes Prime Minister—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will refer to individuals by their appropriate titles.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

because $1.2 billion will be cut from primary care. What does that mean in practice? In the member for Chifley's electorate, we know what it means. We were out there just last week, with the member for Greenway, announcing $500,000 for a diabetes prevention program—very important in their local community, where diabetes is a huge problem.

Also in Western Sydney is an after-hours service, run by the Nepean-Blue Mountains Medicare Local—cut, if those opposite form government. In country Victoria is a service to transport people with chronic conditions, run by the Lower Murray Medicare Local and the Royal Flying Doctor Service—cut, under those opposite. The Southern Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Island Medicare Local is lifting child immunisation rates—cut, by those opposite.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why do you continue to lie!

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume her seat. The member for Dickson will withdraw.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has the call; if she obeys the standing orders.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a very clear choice: more decisions made locally by local communities or $1.2 billion—

Opposition member interjecting—

They are not bureaucrats; they are doctors, nurses, psychologists, podiatrists, speech therapists, health workers—losing their jobs.