Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to commend the Albanese Labor government on delivering its second federal budget. In this budget, Australians will see a massive $14.6 billion cost-of-living relief package that has been carefully calibrated and targeted to help ease the cost of living while not significantly contributing to inflation.

A particularly important takeaway from the budget last night was the announcement of a record $3.5 billion into Medicare. The federal government will triple the bulk billing incentive to support general practices to bulk bill, which will ensure our most vulnerable people will be able to afford to see their local GP, helping to support 11.6 million Australians. As an emergency doctor I cannot overstate how important this investment is for our primary healthcare sector across the nation, especially on the Central Coast, as it will help ease the pressure on our emergency departments. This much needed investment in our primary health sector is the largest investment into Medicare ever, making it easier and cheaper for Australians to see a doctor.

Combined with the federal government's Medicare urgent care clinics and the announcement of an extra eight across the nation, the Albanese Labor government is addressing the decade of neglect and mismanagement left behind by the previous Liberal-National government. I'm pleased to update the House and say that progress on establishing two Medicare urgent care clinics on the Central Coast is tracking excellently. I thank the Treasurer on a true Labor budget and the health minister, Mark Butler, on ensuring that health care was a centrepiece to the federal budget. (Time expired)