Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I injured my finger just the night before I was meant to come to Canberra with a silly incident of ripping my sock off extravagantly. I also ripped my tendon off. But this is how it went. It was an obvious deformity. I went to an urgent care clinic. I waited five minutes, saw a triage nurse, saw a doctor, went five minutes up the road to the X-ray department, waited five minutes, had the X-ray and went back. By the time I got back, the doctor had my X-ray, he had assessed it and then I waited, probably, another five minutes while I got a referral for a proper, customised splint, some analgesia for the pain and, obviously, the splint. It took, in total, one hour. I was able to come to Canberra happily the next day. There were no charges and no delays, just quality, accessible care. I wasn't the only patient in there; it was just an efficient service. All I needed was my Medicare card, and that experience isn't unique.

I'm proud to be part of a government that invests in these services—housing, education and health. I'm proud to be part of a government that understands the social determinants of health. Improving these factors and the other ones that I mentioned earlier in the speech is the most effective investment that we can make in our communities, and it's why Labor's appropriation bill matters so much. It translates into real, relatable impacts on people's lives. It's the parent who can take their child to a doctor without worrying about costs, it's the student who can pursue a nursing career without crippling debt, it's the young person who can own their first home with hope and security and it's the community that has access to mental health support without barriers.

For me, personally, it connects directly back to my life and my career. From my earliest days as a nurse in the remote communities to my work in occupational health and safety, volunteering and serving on the shire council, I've always seen the importance of putting people first. I've seen the difference that accessible services, compassionate care and real investment can make in people's lives. We will continue to work on expanding Medicare, improving access to urgent care and mental health services, lowering the cost of medicines, making housing more achievable and supporting education and skills for all Australians. It's a reflection of our values, our priorities and our vision for a fairer, healthier Australia. I'm proud to be part of a government that invests in people. I will continue to work every day to make sure that healthcare, education, housing and support services are accessible, affordable and compassionate. I will continue to advocate for the social determinants of health because I know from experience that, when we get things right, communities like Bullwinkel thrive. It's about people, and it's making life better for every Australian.

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