Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 4 November, members of this House gathered with GPs and doctors from around the country to celebrate the Stronger Medicare Awards. This was a significant event, and I'm pleased to say that that night Dr Lester Mascarenhas, who runs the Utopia clinic in my electorate, became a Medicare Champion for working in primary care. I was thrilled to be there with Dr Mascarenhas—with Lester—when he was called forward to receive this award because the work that he's done at Utopia is truly inspiring. This is a clinic established—that is now, actually, a charity—to support refugees and asylum seekers who live in my community with their very real health needs. Lester is an inspiration in the health fraternity. He and his partner, Vern, came to Canberra to be acknowledged for that work, and he was surprised to be named a Medicare Champion. The work they do in my community is incredibly important, and it's important, too, to share the way Utopia came to be. It came to be not by imposing ideas upon a community about what was needed but by working with the community outside of the health area and getting to know that community.

The highest number of refugees in my community come from Myanmar of Karen, Karenni, Chin and Kachin background in terms of their ethnicities who have settled in our area, and Utopia has become their go-to place for their health needs, not surprisingly, because they have interpreters on the ground. They have specialist connections into infectious diseases. They really have shaped this clinic to support the community it's designed to support. I want to celebrate Dr Lester Mascarenhas and all who work at Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health, because they've changed lives—the lives of many who have chosen to call Melbourne's outer west their new home. They spent a year in consultation before they established the clinic, and now the clinic has a unique model of care, supporting the complex and often unmet needs of refugees and asylum seekers in my community. A big congratulations to them.

The reason this government chooses to have the Stronger Medicare Awards is that it is just one more way of ensuring that people understand our commitment to Medicare and our commitment to bulk-billing. Since coming to government, we've had an incredible turnaround from the previous government's policies on bulk-billing, with the incentive tripling from 1 November last year, notably the largest investment in bulk-billing in history. Since then, there have been 5.4 million additional estimated visits across Australia because of this government's investment. That's 103,000 visits to a GP a week. On top of that, we've introduced cheaper medicines. We've introduced a Medicare urgent care clinic. We have one in my community as well in Werribee, which is taking considerable pressure off our public hospital, the Mercy, by seeing patients, particularly the number of children that the urgent care clinic is seeing and particularly in those busy times, busy sports times, after hours, after normal medical hours and particularly on weekends.

More importantly, though, for my community, this government restored Wyndham's distribution priority area status after the Morrison Liberal government cut it. This meant that we lost 40 per cent of GPs in some practices across the city of Wyndham. Those numbers are rebuilding back again since we restored the DPA status. With that and the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive, we're seeing more GPs working longer hours and being open for longer hours in my local community, which means better health outcomes for many people. It also means that practices have an opportunity to do that kind of delivery, that kind of wraparound health services that we're seeing for our refugee and asylum seeker communities at Utopia. It means that the doctors who work in these clinics know that this government has their back, that this government is committed to Medicare and that they're committed to primary health care.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The distribution priority areas might be okay in the member for Lalor's electorate. Her electorate is just 17 kilometres north of Melbourne's central business district. But it's not there that the doctors are most needed. It's out in regional and particularly remote Australia where they are now suffering because of the distribution changes brought about by this Albanese Labor government. The Rural Doctors Association said that the ink wasn't dry on the changes to the policy before doctors were already leaving the bush. Doctors were already leaving those areas in the country which were already doing it tough.

I'm proud of the fact that I put in place as Deputy Prime Minister the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network. That goes through Wagga Wagga, Orange, Mildura, Dubbo and so many places that were crying out for doctors—not necessarily those regional hubs but many of the little towns around them, many of the little bush hospitals that relied so heavily on those major country centres. But for that rural medical school network, I don't know where they'd be. I don't know where some of those centres would get their doctors.

I heard the member for Lalor talking about the pharmaceutical dispensing changes. My goodness! Country pharmacists—there are more than 300—are the only health professionals in some of those 300 communities, because they don't have a doctor and they don't have a hospital. They just have a chemist—a chemist that was going to be forced to potentially shut because of that change, because of that new 60-day rule that Labor put into place. Then we look at health and talk about bulk billing. Bulk-billing rates have fallen dramatically by 11 per cent under Labor's watch. If Labor members can get up and claim that we are better served, healthwise, under them than under the previous coalition government, I tell you that they are absolutely kidding themselves, and they are indeed misleading the House.

I am very pleased to talk about the record of the former coalition government in health. There were more than 94 million telehealth consultations through Medicare with 16 million patients. Telehealth is not the answer; we need professionals, face-to-face. But, in rural centres, where sometimes you can't get that face-to-face contact, then telehealth is doing the job. There were 857 new medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since 2019 in that last term of government alone and more than 128,000 Australians supported by headspace each year. Everybody across the parliament would agree that headspace is doing a great job with mental health with our young people. There were 1,400 additional nurse placements for the regions.

The distribution priority areas changes have enabled places such as outer suburban areas of metropolitan cities, the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong to say that they are short of doctors at the expense of regional centres that in some places don't have a doctor for hundreds and hundreds of kilometres. It shouldn't be that when in pain, catch the plane. It shouldn't be that way. Doctors should be encouraged in every way, shape or form to put their shingle up in a country centre, but Labor has taken that away. They have absolutely taken away the incentive and the encouragement by putting in place a measure by which they say that some of these peri-urban centres somehow should be in the distribution priority areas. They are not; they should not be in that list, because it's coming at the expense of hard-working Australians, who, I might add, carried this country during COVID.

When every city type wanted to pull their doona up over their head and pretend that life wasn't happening and it would all blow over, the regional people in many of these remote centres were doing the farming, growing the food, growing the fibre, doing the mining that kept this nation's lights on, kept this nation fed and kept the clothes on people's backs and not just for Australians but for many other nations besides. Then Labor members come in here with these motions, talking themselves up as though they are the ant's pants to health provisions in this country. Well, I'm calling it out. Indeed, Labor has not been good for health, and particularly for regional health, which is crying out for more doctors and nurses. What have we got? We have a government that doesn't know, doesn't understand and worst of all, doesn't care.

Alicia Payne (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today in strong support of this motion celebrating the 40th anniversary of Medicare, one of Australia's most transformative government programs. I want to thank the member for Solomon for bringing this to the House today. Medicare enshrined access to health care as a right for all Australians, regardless of income or background or where they live. Its legacy is one of compassion, fairness and equity in the provision of healthcare services. As we celebrate Medicare's 40th birthday this year, it is important to acknowledge the extraordinary individuals and teams that continue to exemplify Medicare's promise through their own dedication and innovation.

The Stronger Medicare Awards celebrate primary healthcare professionals across the country who go above and beyond to enhance the health and wellbeing of Australians. I'm very proud today to acknowledge two recipients of that award from my electorate who were honoured for their outstanding service to healthcare. I want to congratulate Dr Andrew Palfreman and Next Practice Canberra for their contributions to caring for our community.

Dr Palfreman has shown unwavering dedication to the health of his patients, especially in times of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he took the extraordinary step of setting up a temporary building in his practice's carpark. This innovative measure allowed for the safe treatment of infectious patients while simultaneously facilitating critical vaccination clinics for the community. Dr Palfreman's commitment goes far beyond his practice walls and carpark. He works with Canberra's 'Chat to PAT' bus service to bring health care to vulnerable and homeless Canberrans, exemplifying Medicare's ethos of inclusive compassion and care.

Next Practice Canberra has similarly demonstrated the gold standard of patient care. I was really pleased to meet Dr Paresh Dawda and Heema Dawda from Next Practice at the awards. This practice delivers multidisciplinary, individualised and coordinated care to people with complex and chronic needs. Among its patients are hundreds of individuals in residential aged care, those who are housebound, people with disabilities, and patients with palliative care needs. By forming integrated practice units comprising GPs, nurses, nurse practitioners, patient advocates, pharmacists, social workers and a range of other specialists, Next Practice stands as a beacon of holistic, compassionate and team based care. Their work is a testament to what can be achieved when healthcare professionals collaborate to meet the diverse needs of our communities.

I also want to acknowledge Gareth Wheeldon from Capital Chemist, who was a finalist for the Stronger Medicare Awards. As a co-owner of Capital Chemist at the University of Canberra, Gareth has made a significant contribution to breaking down barriers for vulnerable and marginalised communities in Canberra. He collaborates with local organisation Meridian to deliver free vaccinations for people living with or affected by HIV, the LGBTIQ+ community, and people at enhanced risk of HIV and STIs. Through the Sex Workers Outreach Program, Gareth also provides vital vaccinations at workplaces, ensuring accessibility and safety for a vulnerable group within our community. This commitment to breaking down barriers is exactly what Medicare represents—healthcare that is accessible and inclusive for everyone. All of us in this House have the deepest respect and gratitude to all healthcare professionals who tirelessly work to keep our communities healthy. Their efforts embody the fundamental belief that it is in your Medicare card, not your credit card, which guarantees quality healthcare.

Medicare was a Labor innovation, and Labor will always act to improve Medicare and to keep it strong. Whether it be the biggest investment in bulk-billing in Medicare's history, the establishment of 87 Medicare urgent care clinics around the nation, the introduction of 60-day dispensing and cheaper medicines or our commitment to significantly increase funding for our public hospitals, Labor is the party of universal health care, the party of Medicare and the party of a healthier Australia. Happy birthday, Medicare.

Bridget Archer (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a pleasure to speak to this motion today and take the opportunity to congratulate all the hardworking and dedicated health professionals in my community and, in particular, to highlight a couple of stand-out services that have recently been awarded for their innovative contributions. Firstly, I want to acknowledge the government's recent Stronger Medicare Awards and share the fantastic work of one of the inaugural winners, City Mission's Mission Health service in Launceston, in my electorate. Local nurse practitioner Jane realised there was a gap in services that could provide free health services to the homeless. Jane joined forces with a registered nurse and lecturer, Michele, and collaborated with City Mission, a charity organisation, to set up Mission Health clinic.

Mission Health runs on a weekly basis, providing bulk-billed health care for patients in Launceston experiencing homelessness. The service provides free health care for people who may otherwise go without, and has been assisted by the volunteer efforts of other local health practitioners. Services include chronic health management, general health assessments, immunisations and sexual health testing, and it is making a measurable and substantial difference to the lives of vulnerable people. Jane said:

…that Medicare has been an integral puzzle piece in the establishment and continued running of Mission Health.

Without Medicare, the clinic would either be non-existent, or it would have been far more difficult to achieve what we have. Without Medicare, much of Mission Health's work would mean this group would pay private costs for prescription medication, there would be problems referring to local hospitals, obtaining Medicare funding toward radiology and pathology investigations, and so much more.

As one of the clinicians of Mission Health, Medicare means that I can receive a fee for service in the work to support homeless people of Launceston. I have elected to return a percentage of this fee to the clinic to buy essential consumables such as wound care products.

This cohort of people have difficulty managing appointments, so the drop-in service is ideal for them.

Mission Health routinely sees patients in need of immediate health care. Recently, the service helped a young woman with a hormonal device that was three years past its effectiveness date. Mission Health was able to remove the old device, replace it with a new one and provide a health check. There are countless stories like this that Jane and her team encounter each week.

This is an innovative and responsive service. It's a model that could be expanded, with greater support, but it will need further support. Although Medicare has helped in delivering this important service, it is not completely responsive to the model, and attention will need to be given to ensure the service's ongoing sustainability. I have met with Minister Mark Butler to raise the issues facing the centre, going forward. I thank him for his time and interest in the program, and I hope that a sustainable pathway can be assured.

Similarly, I congratulate RACGP General Practice of the Year award recipient Beaconsfield Family Medical Practice, led by practice principal Dr Reddy, as he's known to his patients. He only took over the practice in 2023, as a solo GP, but in a little over year he's grown the clinic to now include four full-time GPs and integrated allied health services, and he's bulk-building all his patients. It must be pointed out this is an exception to the norm in Tasmania, with most practices unable to bulk-bill at that level. Primary Health Tasmania, Tasmania's primary health network, provided information and support in areas including accreditation, Australian government funding programs, digital readiness work and other programs. Dr Reddy said:

We feel like the PHN has stood as a backbone in this journey of our new medical practice, and we are very thankful for that.

What I've seen in this last 12 months is that not only did Primary Health Tasmania help me to set up the clinic, but it also helps me and my staff to have continuous professional development through the workshops it runs.

The community has embraced the GP and his young family with open arms. I visited the practice recently, and I can see how much of a difference the increased services have meant to the community. I'm excited about the vision and enthusiasm that Dr Reddy has for delivering health care in this rural area, but, again, more needs to be done. Medicare plays an important part, but it's not the whole story. I am happy to give credit where it's due, but I'd urge the government to redouble its efforts, because the job is far from done. There remain huge and urgent gaps in primary health care provision in Tasmania. Despite the unfortunate self-congratulatory tone of this motion, many Tasmanians are being left far behind, and the Tasmania Liberal government has been doing much of the heavy lifting to fill the gaps that the federal government has not filled. The government has opened new urgent care clinics, but, in the meantime, primary health practices have continued to close in regional and rural areas. Your Medicare card may be more important than your credit card, but it is still your postcode that you need to turn your attention to.

Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the member for Solomon for moving this motion, providing us with the opportunity to celebrate a monumental milestone in the history of our nation: the 40th anniversary of Medicare. This year marks four decades since the introduction of a healthcare system that has fundamentally transformed the way Australians access medical services. Since its inception, on 1 February 1984, Medicare has stood as a beacon of equality in ensuring that health care is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy but a right shared by all Australians, regardless of their income or background.

The establishment of Medicare was one of the most transformative moments in Australian history. It was a bold step towards creating a society where every individual could seek medical help without the fear of financial ruin. This revolutionary system was built on the principle that health care should be accessible for everyone. Medicare has evolved significantly over these 40 years, from its early days of paper claims and lengthy queues to today's streamlined digital process that allows nearly half a billion services to be processed annually. This evolution reflects not only advancements in technology but also a commitment to improving accessibility and efficiency in health care delivery.

To commemorate this historic occasion, the Albanese Labor government has launched the Stronger Medicare Award. These awards recognise primary healthcare professionals from all corners of our country who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of Australians. I'd like to take this moment to congratulate all finalists and winners of these prestigious awards. Your dedication and hard work exemplify the spirit of Medicare and demonstrate how vital primary care is to our communities. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every general practitioner, nurse, midwife, pharmacist and allied health professional working tirelessly in primary care. Your commitment keeps our communities healthy and thriving. You are the backbone of our healthcare system, and it is your unwavering service that ensures that all Australians have access to quality medical care. As we celebrate these achievements, let us reaffirm our fundamental belief: it is your Medicare card—not your credit card—that should guarantee access to quality health care. This principle is non-negotiable and must remain at the core of our health policy as we move forward.

However, we must also acknowledge that this commitment has faced challenges. The current Leader of the Opposition once attempted to introduce a tax on visits to GPs. He froze Medicare rebates, cut $50 billion from hospitals and claimed there were too many free Medicare services. He was even voted by Australia's doctors as the worst health minister in Medicare's history. These actions serve as a stark reminder that only a government dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare can be trusted with its future. As we look towards the future, it is essential that we continue to build on the legacy of Medicare. The recent launch of initiatives like MyMedicare aims to enhance continuity of care and improve access for patients through tailored health packages. These advancements are critical as we strive to ensure that every Australian can receive care at the right time and at the right place. Moreover, as we reflect on what has been achieved over the past four decades, we must also consider what lies ahead. The landscape of health care is consistently changing, influenced by new technologies, emerging health challenges and evolving patient needs. It is crucial that we remain adaptable and responsive to these changes, while upholding the principles that have made Medicare a cornerstone of Australian society.

In conclusion, as we celebrate 40 years of Medicare, let us honour not only its legacy but also those who fought tirelessly for its establishment and those who continue to uphold these values today. We are fortunate to live in a country where access to health care is recognised as a fundamental right—a right that must be fiercely protected against any attempt to undermine it. Let us move forward together with renewed commitment to strengthen Medicare for future generations, so that it remains a source of pride for all Australians. The Albanese Labor government is dedicated to this vital cause and committed to ensuring that every Australian can access quality health care without fear or hesitation.

Russell Broadbent (Monash, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia has a world-class health system: Medicare. The backbone of that system is the dedication of our highly skilled, hardworking healthcare workforce. These healthcare workers are subject to intense conditions that wouldn't be acceptable in any other industry, but day in day out they get on with their job and do it wonderfully. They bore the brunt of the pandemic. Even though overwhelmed by immense pressure and unknown variables, healthcare workers stood as our first line of defence. But, four years on, healthcare workers are still overwhelmed in large part by unprecedented and unexplained levels of sickness right across the country. Why isn't anyone investigating this phenomenon? The Australian people deserve answers.

Today I rise to speak on a matter of grave national importance which has, until now, been met with silence by those who should be taking decisive action. My recent correspondence with the Prime Minister highlights alarming findings in synthetic DNA contamination in Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 products, detected at levels of up to 145 times above the TGA's own stated limits. Let me assure you that I did not write those letters lightly. My letters were accompanied by a science summary co-authored by 52 eminent scientists including Dr David Speicher, a Canadian virologist, who authored the report investigating DNA contamination in Australian COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vials; Professor Angus Dalgleish, one of the world's leading oncologists; Emeritus Professor Wendy Hoy; Emeritus Professor Robert Clancy; Professor Alexandra Henrion Caude; and Kevin McKernan, former research director of the Human Genome Project. These distinguished individuals put their names and reputations on the line attesting to the overwhelming evidence of synthetic DNA contamination in these vaccines and the risks posed to Australians.

The science summary speaks directly to the catastrophic implications of this contamination. Experts have determined that as few as three to 10 molecules of the SV40 promoter and enhancer sequences contaminating Pfizer's product can potentially trigger cell mutations, leading to cancer. Yet Dr Speicher's analysis of Australian vials detected billions of these molecules in a single dose. For the TGA to dismiss these concerns outright without credible testing or scientific analysis is a failure of duty to the Australian people. Even as the evidence was brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and subsequently passed to the health minister, we received no scientific denial, no testing and no thorough investigation, only a letter from Minister Butler's office referring to the TGA statement asserting the findings as so-called misinformation. The TGA statement has since been revealed as misleading and wholly unreliable, containing at least 14 false assertions, as documented in the comprehensive analysis co-authored by investigative journalist Rebekah Barnett and leading scientific experts.

We are at a crucial juncture this day. The TGA is yet to perform appropriate tests to confirm or deny Dr Speicher's report findings. The TGA has been using a testing method for DNA contamination that grossly undermeasures the levels of DNA contamination, a method Moderna itself seems deems inadequate for this purpose in its own patent documents for these drugs. No further evidence has been presented to allay the concerns of scientists or the public. Instead, we see avoidance, misleading statements and a complete lack of accountability from our regulators.

I must also draw attention to the extraordinary efforts made by the Town of Port Hedland Council, who, after hearing from cancer expert Professor Angus Dalgleish and from their own community experiencing a sevenfold increase in deaths, passed a historic motion calling for the suspension of these products and for the TGA to conduct independent testing. They took a stand not out of political agenda but from their ethical duty to protect our community. It was the testimony of Professor Dalgleish, observing an alarming increase in aggressive cancers among vaccinated individuals, that gave weight to this decision. Professor Dalgleish's observations are echoed by other medical professionals worldwide who are documenting what they term 'turbo cancers', cancers of an aggressive nature never seen at this scale before.

So, for the health and safety of all Australians, I call upon this House and the Prime Minister to act now. Invoke the precautionary principle and suspend these products until independent testing can confirm or dispel these contamination findings. Australia cannot afford the risk of another crisis, one that would eclipse even the devastating Thalidomide disaster. We must protect the health of all Austrians, and that requires transparency, accountability and action.

Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The time allotted for this debate has expired.