Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Medicare has been the backbone of my professional life as a paediatrician for 40 years. The coalition does not understand the importance of a universal health insurance scheme. They just don't understand it. Gough Whitlam's Medibank was destroyed by the Fraser government. The Howard government attempted to destroy Bob Hawke's Medicare. We saw the previous coalition leader, Peter Dutton, the worst health minister we've ever had, try to introduce a co-payment. Those on the other side had no health policies to deliver in the previous election—none at all, other than 'me too'. But they just don't understand Medicare.

We understand Medicare. It's part of our DNA. We are delivering health care for all Australians in an equitable manner. We're introducing our Medicare urgent care centres. We have one in Campbelltown, which is taking a lot of pressure off our hospital emergency department. We recently opened a Medicare mental health centre, which is a walk-in centre providing enormous support to people with psychosocial problems in Macarthur. We are doing a great job of delivering health care around the country. The coalition do not understand health care. They are doing a very poor job now in opposition. I have no expectation they would deliver proper health policy in the future. Medicare is part of our DNA.

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