Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Urquhart, for that question. From fast and affordable access to a GP to crucial check-ups to prevent serious illness, the Albanese government understands the importance of primary health care and is investing in it. It's vital for people, it's vital for Australians, and it's also vital for the healthcare system because, without strong primary health care, emergency departments and local hospitals face extra pressure.

And we know this. How do we know this? We know this because that's what happened under them. We know those opposite deliberately ran down Medicare and general practice. We know that Mr Dutton, in his first budget as health minister, tried to abolish bulk billing. Oh! This side is very quiet now, are they? You tried to abolish bulk billing. That's Peter Dutton's real plan for Medicare. He wanted to abolish bulk billing. (Time expired)