Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care (Senator McCarthy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Steele-John today relating to Medicare.

It has never been harder to see the GP than it is right now. Let me share some key figures that may enlighten some in the government who seem to be unable to hear the voices of the community members that come to them day after day, I'm sure, as they do with me, and speak of the absolute difficulty that people are experiencing in getting this basic health care. In Perth last year, only 2.9 per cent of GP clinics bulk billed, and the average out-of-pocket cost for a standard appointment was $42.68. In Macnamara last year, only 4.8 per cent of GP clinics bulk billed, and the average out-of-pocket cost for a standard appointment was $51.14. Even in parts of our country where we have a higher rate of bulk billing clinics in comparison to the rest of the country, the percentage of clinics that are bulk billing is still far below half. In Wills, for example, only 45 per cent of GP clinics bulk bill, and the average out-of-pocket cost, last year, was $44.16. In Richmond, in New South Wales, only 8.9 per cent of GP clinics bulk billed, and the average out-of-pocket cost was, for a standard appointment, $40.89. In Sturt, in South Australia, only 8.9 per cent of GP clinics bulk billed, with an average out-of-pocket cost for a standard appointment being $42.62. These amounts of money are totally unacceptable. This cost is unbearable. These barriers to care are leading to ill health, are leading to folks ending up in hospital beds and are leading to deteriorating mental health.

I've heard from people directly, on the doors in Perth, how difficult it is for people right now. I will never forget talking to a mum in Maylands about the cost of seeing the GP. She was quite open with me. She said: 'I have something on my skin—a mark, a blemish—that I know I need to get checked, but I can't afford it. I cannot afford to go to the GP to get it looked into, because I have to put food on the table for my kids.' Nobody should ever have to make a choice like that. Nobody should ever have to ignore the signs of ill health to be able to pay their rent and to be able to keep a roof over their head. I have heard, also, so many stories from nurses in the WA hospital system, and Royal Perth Hospital stands out. So many of these health professionals are burning out. So many are struggling because the system is underfunded and because people are being forced to turn up to the ED when, if they were able to access a GP for free, they would not have ended up in a critical situation. They would not have had to present at the GP.

The Greens have a plan to fix this. We are proposing a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive for everyone. We are proposing an increase in the Medicare rebate for long sessions—long consults—so that you can get the detailed care and have the long conversations. We are proposing more funding support for trainee GPs to solve the workforce crisis and the building of 1,000 local free healthcare clinics where you can see the GP for free with no cost.

Question agreed to.