Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition supports affordable and accessible health care for all Australian women. The government's announcement of $573 million in a women's health package is a welcome commitment, but let us not forget that the coalition has pioneered much of this work already. It was the former coalition government that made historic investments in women's health, establishing Australia's first endometriosis-specific clinics and laying the foundation for better health care for women nationwide. You see, women's health care has always been a priority for the coalition. As a father of three girls, I understand that any commitment to women's health is crucial.

But right now, across our nation, we have a primary health crisis that has never been worse. Under the Albanese Labor government, it has been harder and more expensive for women to access critical primary health care. The GP bulk-billing rate has collapsed from 88 per cent under the coalition to just 77 per cent today, leading to over 1.5 million Australians avoiding GP visits due to cost concerns.

So we will hear a 'Mediscare' campaign at the next election, but the coalition is the only party that can be trusted to get Australia's healthcare system back on track.