Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too rise today on this side of the House to speak about the Albanese Labor government's record on cheaper medicine, Medicare and health care for all Australians. This government is strengthening Medicare, as we've heard, with more doctors, more urgent care clinics and even cheaper medicine. We're making the largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago. Our government is investing $8.5 billion to deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits each year, hundreds of nursing scholarships, and thousands more doctors in the largest GP training program ever. If you read the papers and other media this week, you'll see it talk about Labor's increase in health investment making a better healthcare system in Australia.

I'd just quickly look back on 19 May 2014 and the front page headline, 'Tony Abbott now admits $1.8bn in hospital cuts will begin from July.' That is the difference between this side and that side. And, to the member for Gippsland: I'm quite proud to hold up my Medicare card. I'm very proud of it, because this is a Labor initiative that gave every Australian free hospital cover, including doctors and other forms of health care. It's something that we on this side are very proud of. When you look at the record of the opposition when in government from 2013 to 2022, you see the freezing of Medicare bulk-billing, which was a real shame. (Time expired)

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