Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I do appreciate that the senator's question is in regard to the dentist, but let's also point out that that is also in reference to Medicare and the use of Medicare. I think it is important to point out that in November 2021, six months before the last election, the financial viability of general practice was in serious trouble after the coalition's six-year freeze on Medicare rebates. That started when Peter Dutton was health minister—$6.1 billion invested to strengthen Medicare in the 2023 budget.