Ash Ambihaipahar (Barton, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

And in Banks as well. I want to reflect on the issue of the MPI, which is about restoring that fairness in the rebate system. This directs much-needed funding to provide that dignity in care, particularly for our older Australians.

Labor has invested $3 billion in delivering more aged-care beds, more packages and better care for older Australians in this current budget, and it's important to reflect on that because the reality is we saw that neglect over the past 10 years under the coalition. Also, the reality of caring for grandparents—I think it's one of those big challenges for a lot of us, regardless of age; I'm kissing 40—is that it is quite challenging. But it's pertinent to reflect on the fact that having cheaper medicines has been a great achievement for our older community in the electorate of Barton and across Australia. Also the free RSV vaccinations—that life-saving vaccination costs almost $300, and, from May of this year, older Australians didn't have to pay a cent. That's another policy implementation to help our older Australians.

The urgent care clinic in Carlton has been a huge hit, particularly because of a decade of not having bulk-billing services there. It has been well received by people in my electorate. I also wanted to quickly reflect on the PBS—in particular, on medication for older women who are experiencing menopause—and on the expansion of endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics that are quite beneficial for older women in Australia. I'm quite proud of that.

I heard the contributions from those across about funding for hospitals. The Labor government has increased that funding by $25 billion over the next five years through that landmark hospital funding agreement. That is delivering more money for public hospitals across the states and territories.

More importantly, as a former employment industrial relations lawyer, the workforce is very important, and it has grown. The health workforce had an extra 17,000 doctors joining the Australian health system in the last two years. That's more than any time in the past decade. We're giving students more opportunities and training more doctors and nurses with the largest GP training program in history, and we're giving hundreds of scholarships for nurses and midwives to extend their skills and qualifications.

While I hear some concerns, particularly about older Australians who are contributing through the private health system, there are also other Australians—older Australians—who don't have the opportunity to pay for that. Those people are coming to the St Vincent de Paul Society for help. The Albanese Labor government has made sure that we invest significantly in health not only for young people but also for older Australians.

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