Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Minister McCarthy, representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Minister, we know from tax data that one in three big corporations pay no tax. When a nurse or a teacher is paying more tax than megaprofitable companies like Chevron, you know that something's wrong. If big corporations paid their fair share, we could fund the things we all need, like adding dental care into Medicare. When the Greens were in minority government with Labor in 2010 we got dental for kids added into Medicare. We want to finish the job and make sure that every Australian can see the dentist using their Medicare card, not their credit card. Will the Albanese government tax big corporations and fund bringing dental into Medicare?

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

Just before I call Senator McCarthy, Senator Waters, I will say that that question is predominantly about tax and so should go to Minister Gallagher. But I am happy to call the minister and ask her to respond in whatever manner she sees fit in relation to your question.

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

Thank you, President. I'm always happy to talk about Medicare, but, as you have rightly pointed out, in terms of the tax side of things I will refer to Senator Gallagher. When we came to government in 2022, it had never been harder or more expensive to find a doctor. As you know, President, bulk-billing was in freefall after a decade of cuts and neglect to Medicare, and that's why strengthening Medicare was a key focus of our election platform. In just two years we have delivered more doctors and more bulk-billing, and opened 87 Medicare urgent care clinics.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's gone down—

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

Have you been to any of the urgent care clinics? I'd be interested to know if anyone opposite has actually been to any of the urgent care clinics.

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

Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Senator Waters?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just a point of order—

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

Senator Watt! I've got Senator Waters on her feet.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was specifically asking about dental care.

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

You will recall that the substantive part of the question was about tax. You did reference Medicare. I've invited the minister to respond, so she is free to respond in that way. Minister, please continue.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to 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.

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

Point of order: the minister must not mislead the Senate.

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

Senator Ruston, that's a debating point, and you know that well. Minister McCarthy, please continue.

I didn't hear, Minister Wong, but I will ask her—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You can't say that. I know you might be trying to—

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

Thank you, Minister Wong. Senator Ruston, I didn't hear the comment, but in the interests of the chamber I ask you to withdraw.

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

In the interests of the chamber, I withdraw.

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

Thank you, Senator Ruston, I appreciate that.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! If there was more order in the chamber I would hear these things. Minister McCarthy, please continue.

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

Just let me finish there. In the last two years we have delivered the two largest increases to Medicare rebates in 30 years and we have increased Medicare rebates by more in just two years than the former government did in nine long years. Our government is working in partnership with states and territories to develop a new national oral health plan for the next 10 years. This will include goals to improve the oral health status of Australians and reduce inequalities. (Time expired)

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

Senator Waters, first supplementary?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It sounds like you didn't really want to talk about dental care there. But in the cost-of-living crisis that we're all in, last year two million Australians couldn't afford to go to the dentist. Last time I checked, teeth are part of the body and so dental care should not be considered a luxury. Why is the Albanese government excluding from Medicare dental care for adults?

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

This government is doing everything it can to reduce the cost-of-living pressures on all Australians, unlike those opposite. Our government is providing $215.6 million over two years from 2023-24 to state and territory governments to support public dental services for adults. State and territory governments are responsible for delivering public dental services, including managing waiting lists and determining who is eligible for the services as well as the types of services provided. We are also continuing to fund the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, CDBS, which has provided $3.1 billion in benefits and delivered 51 million services to 3.5 million children since it commenced in January 2014.

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

Second supplementary, Senator Waters?

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last year 80,000 people ended up in hospital because they couldn't afford preventive dental care, according to a report released by AIHW. That adds to the pressure on our underfunded hospitals as well as adding to people's pain. The Greens will keep pushing to add dental into Medicare, not just kick it off to the states and territories. Why won't the Albanese government do that?

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

We certainly support access to private dental services through the private health insurance rebate, which is estimated to provide $7.5 billion in 2024-25 and $38.6 billion from 2023-24 to 2027-28. We recognise that private dental services can also be expensive in Australia, and we've set the fees for private dental services. Private dentists set their own fees for services. Our government supports access to dental care through providing funding to states and territories, and I know you might not agree with that, but that is our process to support access to public dental services. We also support access to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, as I've already outlined in my answers, and the National Health Reform Agreement, NHRA, funding for public hospital admitted and outpatient services.