Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I'm really glad to be here talking about regional Australia. I come from a small town. Right now, my husband, who employs members of our local community, is doing his job as a small business owner, providing services to people where we live.

We have over the weekend made an incredible change, where bulk-billing came into effect for every single Australian, regardless of what their status is. Investing in bulk-billing changes lives in regional communities. People no longer have to make a decision about whether they can afford to go to the doctor or not. For regional centres, this is very important. More than a thousand GP clinics were signed up to the new program before it even started. There are a thousand more clinics who are bulk-billing communities right across the country. I want to personally give a shout-out to Jindabyne Medical Practice, Bega Valley Medical Practice and the Goulburn Health Hub, who have all announced that they will sign up to bulk-billing every person that comes through their doors. For so long, Medicare rebates were frozen by those opposite. What we're doing instead is supporting more doctors into regional, rural and remote Australia. Why are we doing that? Because it's really bloody important. Those opposite talked about GP shortages but didn't do anything. Did they incentivise anyone?

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