Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

When I'm out in my community speaking with people, one of the top issues that comes up is the cost of health care. Health, in my community in Western Sydney, is an extraordinarily difficult issue. We have some of the highest rates of obesity in New South Wales, which puts pressure on our local public hospital due to chronic disease, and we've also got some of the highest rates of mental health issues. I hear often from local constituents about wait times, their inability to get into the hospital and the mental health beds and, of course, their inability to see a doctor that will bulk-bill.

That has really been the theme of this week—asking the Prime Minister about the truth in his claims that all an Australian needs to see a GP is their Medicare card. We clearly know that people now need both their Medicare card and their credit card. It is something that people are writing to me: 'Ask this question of the Prime Minister this week.' Not only have they written to me from my community; I've had emails and phone calls from right across the country saying: 'This is true. We are really struggling in this cost-of-living crisis to pay our bills, to pay our electricity bills, to send our kids to school, and we're also struggling to see a doctor.' It's extraordinary in this country, but it's extra extraordinary because the Prime Minister promised that all you need is your Medicare card. He certainly blundered his way through his response in question time. It was noted in my social media how terrible his answer was and how much of a lie that is now—a broken promise to the Australian people.

When we're talking about seeing a GP, it's always about the ability to be bulk-billed. The truth of the matter is under the coalition bulk-billing was at 88 per cent. It's now 11 per cent lower under this Labor government, at 77 per cent. People from Lindsay and right across Western Sydney can't afford these higher costs, particularly if it is a regular check-up. As I mentioned at the outset, we have some really high rates of chronic disease in my community. It is putting real pressure not only on individuals but on our local health system.

As well as families and individuals going to the doctor, we're really concentrating on the impact this is having on seniors and age pensioners, who, as we know, go for a lot more check-ups as they get older. A pensioner contacted me this week, and they aren't from my community. As I said, I'm getting letters from right across the country. They said they're now paying hundreds of dollars to see their local doctor for regular procedures which they used to pay nothing for. This is the state in which we have our primary health care right now.

I had another person contact me saying they are paying $110 to see their GP. She gets just $40 back on Medicare. The gap fee means it's getting harder and harder for so many Australians to see a doctor right. People are reaching out because they have real-life stories and real-life struggles that the government is completely ignoring, while the Prime Minister continues to wave his Medicare card around. It's a real slap in the face for people struggling right now to be told that everything is so wonderful and that they don't need anything else but their Medicare card. The truth and the reality is people aren't able to get to their GP and aren't able to get the health care they need.

We talk about Medicare urgent care clinics. I've got one in my electorate. It was opened by a Labor member that is not from my area. I wasn't invited to that opening, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is the local community. I've had constituents not able to access this clinic due to short operating hours and the clinic's inability to take certain walk-ins. It's extraordinary. Under the fanfare of 'we're going to make things easier for people in my community', once again it seems like the Albanese government is trying to hoodwink people in my community, and it's just not good enough. We'll keep pressuring the Prime Minister on his claim that you only need a Medicare card, because what you need is both a Medicare care and a credit card, and Australians deserve so much better.

See this speech in context