Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, 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 McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government's budget handed down last night includes the largest ever investment in Medicare, including investments in bulk-billing, urgent care clinics and cheaper medicines. How will this budget help all Australians with the cost of health care?

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

Thank you, Senator Urquhart. When we came to government in 2022 it had never been harder or more expensive to find a doctor. 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 three years, we have delivered more doctors, more bulk-billing, cheaper medicines and opened 87 Medicare urgent care clinics, including one in Darwin. There are actually nine in the Northern Territory.

At this election Australia faces a choice of a stronger Medicare with more bulk-billing for all Australians under Labor or more cuts to Medicare under Peter Dutton's Liberals. A re-elected Albanese Labor government will make the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago. We're investing $7.9 billion so all Australians can see a GP for free. Australian patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs, and, for the first time, Labor will expand bulk-billing incentives to all Australians and create an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk-bill every patient. Seeing a GP regularly helps to catch health issues early before they worsen and escalate to needing more intensive and more costly care. That's why we're investing $662.6 million in a workforce package to deliver more doctors and nurses than ever before. By 2028, we will fund 2,000 new GP trainees every year.

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

Senator Urquhart, first supplementary?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how is the Albanese Labor government expanding urgent care clinics, and have there been any barriers to the rollout of urgent care clinics?

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

We promised 50 Medicare urgent care clinics at the election, and we've delivered 87 around Australia. Over one million patients have walked through the door of a Medicare UCC and received the free urgent care they need instead of waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department. A re-elected Albanese government will build on its historic investment in Medicare to expand the availability of free urgent care with a $644 million commitment to open another 50 Medicare urgent care clinics, with more clinics in every state and territory, including the Northern Territory.

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

Senator Urquhart, second supplementary?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor's historic investment in bulk-billing, urgent care clinics and cheaper medicines will no doubt have a positive impact for all Australians. The Leader of the Opposition has said that past performance is the best indicator of future practice. His own past performance includes significant cuts to Australia's health system, and he's committed to more cuts. What would it mean to the Australian people if Labor's historic investments in health care are not delivered?

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

The Leader of the Opposition has indeed said that past performance is the best indicator of future practice. You only have to look at Peter Dutton's record as health minister to understand how a Liberal government would wreck Medicare and make health care more expensive for all Australians. Peter Dutton, who was voted Australia's worst health minister by Australia's doctors, cut $50 billion from public hospitals when he was health minister. Peter Dutton cut $200 million from emergency departments in public hospitals and—

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

Senator Fawcett.

David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has three times now referred to the Leader of the Opposition by an incorrect title. It's not even correct.

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

I think it was actually twice. I think that at one point she used 'former health minister', but, Minister, I do remind you to refer to others by their correct title.

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

The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, was voted Australia's worst health minister by Australia's doctors. He cut $50 billion from public hospitals when he was health minister, he cut $200 million for emergency departments in public hospitals and he tried to make everyone pay a fee to be seen in the ED.