Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe a healthy society is a rich society, and I am so proud to be a member of the Albanese Labor government, which has done so much to improve access to medical care around Australia in the short time it's been in power after 10 years of Liberal-National coalition neglect. Take our cheaper medicines policy. We've halved the costs for medicines for people on regular treatments. Our 60-day prescribing has dramatically improved access to medicines for many, many people around Australia. Our strengthening Medicare package of over $3.5 billion has made a dramatic difference to the inexorable slide in bulk-billing rates that occurred under the coalition government. It has now reversed that dramatically, and more people are now able to access fully Medicare-funded doctor's appointments. Also, with our fully bulk-billed urgent care clinics, we've taken a lot of pressure off our emergency departments around Australia, particularly in my electorate of Macarthur and adjoining electorates, where the emergency departments have been under so much pressure. Labor believes people need to keep more of what they earn and be able to access healthcare services at a rate that they can afford. As I've said, a healthy society is a rich society. I congratulate the health minister for all he's done in that regard. Thank you.