Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Farrell. Last week the Albanese government tripled the incentives that general practitioners receive to bulk-bill children under 16, pensioners and other concession cardholders. How many Australians will benefit from the increase to the bulk-billing incentive, and how will this make it easier for Australians to see a doctor?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for her question and for the great work that she does as a senator for South Australia. Bulk-billing is the beating heart of Medicare, and Labor will always strengthen it. The May budget provided an historic $6.1 billion investment in Medicare to lay the foundations for significant reforms to general practice and primary care for all Australians. We have boosted indexation of Medicare payments, with boosts in July and November delivering the largest increase to Medicare payments since Paul Keating was prime minister. In fact, the Albanese government has delivered a larger increase in one year than the former government delivered over seven years. From 1 November the incentives that general practitioners receive to bulk-bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession cardholders will be tripled for most common GP consults. It will be easier to find—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you can find a GP!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You let them down too. You didn't deliver enough of them, Senator McKenzie—

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Changing the district of workforce shortages means there are fewer doctors,

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

another failure of your government. It will be easier to find a bulk-billing doctor for around five million children and their families and seven million pensioners and other concession cardholders. Together, these patients account for three out of five visits to GPs. These changes mean that we are making it easier to see a bulk-billing doctor for more than 11 million Australians.

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

Do you really believe that?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do believe it. I do believe it because when we say we're going to do something, unlike your government, Senator Ruston, we do it. (Time expired)

Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How are those energy bills going?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Smith, first supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister outline to the Senate how investing in stronger Medicare delivers better primary healthcare services for all Australians as well as any other actions that the government is taking to improve access to high-quality, affordable health care, including in our beautiful state of South Australia?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I agree with you, Senator Smith: it is a beautiful state. Strengthening Medicare provides us with a foundation to rebuild primary health care after a decade of neglect and cuts. This won't happen overnight, but we've begun the task of delivering the improvements that are so badly needed. We've introduced a new Medicare rebate for GP consultations of 60 minutes or longer, giving patients a rebate of $191.20 and doctors the time to provide better care for people with complex conditions. We are making vital medicines cheaper to millions of Australians, and South Australians are saving $12 million since 1 January this year. And we have opened 36 Medicare urgent care clinics around the country, including five across South Australia, with Marion and Elizabeth clinics now up and running. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, second supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How have these changes introduced by the Albanese government been greeted by health consumers and peak organisations representing Australian doctors and general practitioners, and how do the changes demonstrate the government's commitment to strengthening Medicare?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for her second supplementary question. We're absolutely determined to strengthen Medicare. The coalition only ever supports Medicare through gritted teeth. We remember John Howard describing bulk-billing as a complete rort. Peter Dutton tried to strangle it, first by attempting to introduce a GP tax and then by freezing Medicare rebates for six long years.

This government is committed to a strong Medicare. Our actions to strengthen Medicare have been described as 'a game changer' by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The president of the college, Dr Nicole Higgins, said:

This … funding … puts patients first.

It will help to stem the bleeding, relieve pressure on our entire healthcare system including our hospitals, and ease pressures on people struggling to afford the care that they need.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. I remind you to refer to others in the other place by their correct titles.