Basem Abdo (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's nearly the end of the week. Not only will it be great to return to our communities, but, from Saturday, what goes live is the single-largest investment in Medicare ever. We're expanding the bulk-billing incentive to all Australians, and we're boosting payments to general practices that bulk-bill every patient. We're already seeing the difference this is making in my own community. The Craigieburn Medical and Dental Centre has already moved to 100 per cent bulk-billing. It means families don't have to worry about gap payments or putting off care because of costs. I'm proud to have announced a full Medicare mental health centre in my community to roll out more places that locals can go for free public mental health care, backed by Medicare.

Under those opposite, it had never been harder to see a doctor. Bulk-billing was in freefall. We had a neglected health system, longer wait times and Australians paying for care that should have been free. And who was at the helm of that policy? It was the current Leader of the Opposition, the then health minister—someone who said, 'If you don't pay for something, you don't value it.' My community values Medicare, we on this side of the House value Medicare, and Australians value Medicare.

See this speech in context