Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Access to affordable health care for locals in my community in north-west Sydney is not a nice-to-have; it's essential. That's why our government has worked tirelessly to strengthen Medicare and ensure that more Australians can access reliable and affordable health care with their Medicare card, not their credit card.

I'm proud to say that the latest quarterly data released just yesterday shows that, through our historic investment in Medicare, the national bulk-billing rate soared to 81.9 per cent. This is up 4.6 per cent on the same period last year. In New South Wales alone, bulk-billing has increased to over 85 per cent. Importantly, there are now over 3,800 Medicare bulk-billing practices. Of those, more than 1,400 were previously mixed billing clinics.

This includes the Medicare urgent care clinic I was proud to open at Rouse Hill Town Centre late last year. For close to six months, highly trained doctors and nurses at the Rouse Hill Medicare Urgent Care Clinic have been supporting my community to access treatment for a range of conditions and injuries that need urgent attention but aren't life threatening—including cuts, viral infections or sprained ankles. The Albanese government is strengthening Medicare and delivering the critical services that north-west Sydney deserves.

One of the things I hear most often from women in my community is how confusing and overwhelming the health system can feel. That's why I'm hosting a women's health forum with my most excellent colleague, the Assistant Minister for Women and Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Rebecca White MP. The forum, which will be hosted online, is designed to inform and empower my community on key women's health issues, including the support our government is providing for Australian women.

The Albanese government is delivering better health care for women, particularly through our landmark $792 million women's health package that's offering more choice, lowering costs and providing better care for Australian women. Since announcing our women's health package, more than 800,000 women have accessed more than three million cheaper scripts for new treatments listed on the PBS. This adds to our government's delivery of 33 endo and pelvic pain clinics, including at Rouse Hill Town Medical and Dental Centre, which is supporting women and girls in my community.

This government will always back Australian women and girls. I encourage all locals in my community to head to michellerowland.com.au and click 'events' to register for my women's health forum.

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