Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

Today I rise in strong support of the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026. As federal member for Bullwinkel and as somebody that worked on the frontline as a nurse for decades, I know firsthand just how important a strong, accessible primary care system is to the health and wellbeing of our communities. Speaker, you may know, but, before I came to this place, I was a nurse. I saw the difference that timely access to a GP can make. I also saw what happens if people delay treatment because they can't see a GP because they're worried about the cost. That's problematic. That's why we're strengthening Medicare and making it easier for Australians to see a doctor. For me, it's not just policy; it's personal.

This bill has established a clear and enduring legislative framework for Commonwealth primary care incentive payment programs, including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program. These programs are a vital part of how we support access, affordability and quality in our health system. They provide financial incentives to GPs and clinics through Medicare—our world-class, enviable, universal healthcare system—to ensure that what remains within reach for every Australian continues to do so. It matters completely in communities like mine in Bullwinkel in Western Australia. Bullwinkel covers a diverse mix of suburban, semirural and regional areas, where access to health care can at times be challenging.

Families in my electorate want certainty. They want to know that—if they're sick, have a chronic disease or need ongoing care—they can see a doctor without worrying about the bill at the end of the visit. And that is exactly what this government is focused on delivering.

The Albanese Labor government is proudly committed to strengthening Medicare—a program which, of course, we started—because we believe health care is a right, not a privilege. The Albanese Labor government has made a record investment of $8.5 billion, the largest in Medicare's history, and it's already making a huge difference. We are expanding bulk-billing, training more doctors and nurses, and strengthening primary care right across the country.

Since Labor strengthened Medicare bulk-billing and introduced additional incentives for GPs, we have seen five more GP practices in my electorate of Bullwinkel take up bulk-billing. That is five more practices, and all the doctors within those practices, making the choice to put patients first and ensure care is accessible to everyone.

I want to take this opportunity to recognise the practices in Bullwinkel that are leading the way by offering these bulk-billing services for every patient in their communities. These include Chidlow Family Doctors, Gidgegannup Medical Centre, Gosnells Medical Clinic, Mount Helena Medical Centre, Armadale After Hours GP, Toodyay Medical Group, Wheatbelt Health Network, Gosnells GPs and Specialist Care, and Beverley Medical Practice.

These practices are not just healthcare providers; they're pillars of our community. They are the places that people turn to in real times of need. And, by choosing to bulk-bill, they're removing barriers and making a real difference in people's lives. I want to thank every doctor, every nurse, every practice manager, every accountant and every healthcare worker in these practices. As somebody that's worked in health care, I know the pressures that you face and I know that your decisions are driven by your commitment to patients. And this government is backing you.

The impact of our reforms is being felt right across Australia, not just in Bullwinkel. On 1 November, we expanded the general practice bulk-billing incentive to all Australians, and introduced an additional 12.5 per cent incentive payment for general practices that bulk-bill all of the patients all of the time.

This was a significant and practical reform, one that gives practices the support that they need to maintain and expand bulk-billing, and we are seeing the results. The latest data in the national GP bulk-billing rate has risen to 81.9 per cent, an increase of 4.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

And bulk-billing has increased in every state and territory: New South Wales now sits at 85.6 per cent; Victoria, 83.7 per cent; Queensland, 79.5 per cent; South Australia, 80.4 per cent; Tasmania, 78 per cent; the Northern Territory, 89.8 per cent; the ACT, 54.1 per cent; and Western Australia, 74 per cent.

These are not just numbers. They represent real Australians who can now access care more readily. They represent parents who don't have to choose between paying for a doctor's visit or paying the bills. They represent older Australians who can manage chronic conditions without the financial strain. And they represent communities that are healthier because care is more accessible.

There are now over 3,800 Medicare bulk-billing practices nationwide, and more than 1,400 of these were previously mixed-billing clinics—so 1,400 have converted to bulk-billing all patients all of the time. Importantly, about 97 per cent of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing practice. In electorates like Bullwinkel that increased access is crucially important.

Speaking of Bullwinkel, I was incredibly proud to open the Mundaring Urgent Care Clinic in my electorate just three months ago. In that short space of time since, this clinic has already seen more than 2,000 patients. That is 2,000 people who have been able to access urgent care quickly without needing to go down the hill on the busy Great Eastern Highway to the emergency hospital department. The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to all those people who have written in to say thank you.

People value the fact that it is fully bulk-billed, open extended hours and does not require an appointment or a referral. It means families can get urgent care when they need it, close to home and without the additional stress of payment. We are seeing similar benefits from other Medicare urgent care clinics which are located just outside of Bullwinkel in Gosnells and North Midland but service the people of Bullwinkel. Together, these clinics are relieving pressure on hospital emergency departments and ensuring that emergency departments can focus on those who truly need emergency care. Primary care, urgent care and emergency care—patients with non-life threatening urgent conditions can be treated quickly and efficiently in the community close to where they live. This is what strong primary care and urgent care systems look like. They are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of patients. They are supported by the very incentive frameworks that this bill puts on a stronger legislative footing.

The impact of our reforms right across Australia from 1 November when we introduced the expanded general practice bulk-billing incentive and the additional 12.5 per cent for practices that bulk-bill all patients, all the time has been remarkable. This is structural change. In this budget, we have embedded those Medicare urgent care clinics so they'll be with us for the future. They're also relieving pressure on GP practices themselves. As a GP nurse, I know that when something urgent walks through the door, of course the scheduled patients, both on my lists and the doctor's lists, will need to wait so that the urgent case is attended to. But having the urgent cases taken out to the Medicare urgent care clinics means that GPs can get on with doing primary care where it's needed.

Primary care is the front door of our health care system. It is where early intervention happens, where preventative health takes place and where relationships are built. It's where we can prevent more serious injuries and health issues further down the track. This bill strengthens our foundations by providing a clear legislative basis for primary care incentive programs. It gives certainty to providers, strengthens accountability and ensures these programs can continue to evolve to meet the needs of Australians.

This bill is about fairness. It's about ensuring that whether you live in Gosnells, Toodyay, Beverley, Chidlow or Gidgegannup, you can access affordable, high-quality care. It's about backing local practices and healthcare workers, and it's about building a stronger Medicare for the future. As someone who has worked extensively in our health system, I am proud to support this bill. As the member for Bullwinkel, I'm proud to stand up for my communities, the patients, the providers and the families who rely on Medicare every day. I commend this bill to the House.

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