Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Aged Care today announced the Albanese Labor government's landmark new agreement to properly fund public hospitals and health services for another year. How will the plan strengthen Medicare and build Australia's future?

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

I say thank you to Senator Green for her question. This is a transformative new health agreement that will make a real difference to the lives of millions of Australians. I'm unsurprised that Liberal senators laugh when we talk about billions of dollars going into public hospitals. I'm unsurprised that Liberal senators laugh when we talk about billions of dollars going into hospitals—

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

Senator Ruston, stop the running commentary.

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

that families take their kids to and that our ageing parents go to.

I'm unsurprised that they laugh at a government that is actually putting money into public hospitals because we know Senator Ruston—

The:

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston, I called you by name. I asked you to stop the running commentary, and you simply ignored me. I want order and silence.

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

I'm unsurprised that Senator Ruston laughs at an additional $1.7 billion to fund public hospitals and health services for another year. I'm unsurprised that Liberal senators laugh at record levels of funding, with $33.91 billion for 2025-26. That will be delivered to every state and territory to help cut waiting lists, reduce waiting times in emergency rooms and manage ramping.

Of course, this is on top of all of the historic investments that Labor have made to Medicare as part of our work to build Australia's future, delivering the largest boost to Medicare rebates in decades, more in two years than they did in nine. The fact that they laugh at public hospital investment really shows the contempt with which the coalition looks at Medicare. It shows the contempt with which they treated Medicare and the health services that Australian families need.

Unlike them, we believe Australians should be able to access affordable, reliable health care. That's what we believe. We don't believe health is a laughing matter. We believe that it is a part of what we do in government—provide health services to Australians. That is in comparison to those opposite, who cut $50 billion from public hospitals while Mr Dutton was health minister. (Time expired)

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

Senator Green, first supplementary?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how will all Australia's states and territories benefit from the game-changing health announcement the Albanese Labor government made today?

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

I am very pleased to confirm that all Australians will benefit from Labor's announcement, from the Prime Minister's announcement, today. The Commonwealth contribution in every state and every territory will increase by 12 per cent in 2025-26. Let's remember that those opposite cut public hospital funding. Under us, public hospital funding is growing.

We are also delivering one-off funding boosts, with $407 million for New South Wales, $402 million for Victoria, $414 million for Queensland, $158 million for Western Australia, $169 million for South Australia, $50 million each for Tassie and the ACT, and $51 million for the Northern Territory, all of which is at risk from Mr Dutton's secret cuts—all of which is at risk. And this is the GP-tax health minister; that's who Mr Dutton was. You can't trust Mr Dutton with health. (Time expired)

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

Senator Green, second supplementary?

Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I note the Prime Minister's comments today that access to health care should depend on your Medicare card, not your credit card. How is the Albanese Labor government making it easier for Australians to see a doctor, buy cheaper medicine and get the health care that they need?

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

From the day we were elected, the Albanese government has been working to strengthen Medicare and to make it easier for Australians to see a doctor, because Labor built Medicare and we will always protect it. We've made medicines cheaper by reducing the maximum amount Australians pay for PBS medicines and we are freezing the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions until 2026, and, for Australians with pensions or concession cards, we've frozen the price until 2030.

The landmark new hospital agreement we've announced today will boost funding for hospitals next year. And we are also taking the pressure off hospitals through our urgent care clinics.

Now, we know Mr Dutton wants to make $350 billion in secret cuts to services. That's even before he spends $600 billion on his nuclear announcement. And now what we know is that he's a risk to Medicare— (Time expired)