Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Farrell. Last week the government's bulk-billing measure came into effect as bulk-billing rates have plummeted every month since you have been in government to the lowest level since 2013. This week it was reported that Dr Gihan de Mel, a member of the Monash Health GP Advisory Committee, has written to the health minister about the measure saying:

… it's essential to recognise that the vast majority of the population will not directly benefit from this.

Minister, how many Australians does the government believe will directly benefit from this measure and not the number who will be eligible?