Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Tyrrell for the question. In general, the health minister's door is always open to representations and ideas to support the delivery of primary health care around the country, including in Tasmania. I note today in the local paper—in the Mercury, I think—there was a story about some improvements in GP numbers and bulk-billing in Tasmania, which is hugely welcome and I imagine driven by some of the measures we've been talking about, including tripling the bulk-billing rate. But I acknowledge that there is much more work to do.

When looking at some of the incentives and programs, we have to look at the whole of the country not just one particular aspect, because incentives do change behaviour—this underpins the Monash model. I think the focus is on supply and getting more doctors into the system, but I'm happy to work with Senator Tyrrell on ideas she might have.