Madonna Jarrett (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor built Medicare and we will always strengthen it. We're working hard every day to make sure all Australians can get access to affordable health care when they need it most, and we're doing this in various ways. We have more urgent care clinics across the country, including one in Brisbane's inner north. I campaigned hard for this, and I can't wait for it to be open.

We also made the biggest reduction in PBS medicine prices since the scheme was introduced, saving Australians over $1 billion. In my electorate, I've heard stories of people putting off getting medicines they need because they can't afford it. This is not acceptable, and this ranges from asthma treatments to cancer treatments. Both can be life threatening. Soon, the most you will pay for a PBS script will be $25. Also, doctors are now able to prescribe 60-day prescriptions, saving us all that extra trip to the doctor. Cheaper medicines aren't just good for your hip pocket; they're also good for your health.

Lastly, Labor has made the largest investment in bulk-billing in the history of Medicare. That has meant almost six million free trips to the GP since November 2023, with nine out of 10 GP visits expected to be bulk-billed by 2030. Recently, Assistant Minister McBride and I opened the Medicare mental health clinic in Lutwyche. At last weekend's mobile office that I had nearby, people of all ages took the information. If this is anything to go by, more locals will get the mental health care they need free and closer to home. We said we'd strengthen Medicare, and that's exactly what we're doing.