Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government's record investment in Medicare making it easier for Territorians to see a doctor for free? Why is it so important after a decade of cuts and neglect?

Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks to the member for Solomon. He and the member for Lingiari are amazing advocates for better health care for that incredible part of the country they represent. Their advocacy, I can tell you, has driven our record support for a stronger Medicare in the Top End. The member for Solomon, I can tell you, Mr Speaker, was a relentless supporter of Charles Darwin University's bid for the first-ever medical school in the Territory. I know he's delighted they're taking on students this month.

Both members also pushed our government, finally, to address the historical underfunding of Territory hospitals that had seen the Territory receive less funding, proportionally, than any other jurisdiction for many, many years. We fixed that as well. This year, we've increased Commonwealth funding to Territory hospitals by 30 per cent, the biggest increase any jurisdiction has ever received in hospital funding. Indeed, Territory hospitals, as a result of the National Cabinet agreement, will receive $1 billion more than they would have received through an extension of the old Morrison agreement.

We've opened eight Medicare urgent care clinics as well. Six are in remote communities, one is in Alice, one is in Palmerston and a ninth will soon open in Darwin because of a promise made by the member for Solomon at the last election.

The member also asked me about bulk-billing rates in the Territory. I'm pleased to report that the number of general practices in Solomon that are now bulk-billing all of their patients all of the time has tripled since November. Now, three-quarters of general practices in Solomon are 100 per cent bulk-billing because of the investment that we made last year. Indeed, right across the Territory, bulk-billing rates are skyrocketing, helping people see their doctor for free. The bulk-billing rate in the Territory for pensioners, concession card holders and kids is now over 97 per cent, the highest rate in the country.

But the biggest increase, I'm pleased to say, has been for working-age Territorians who don't have the benefit of a concession card. I said yesterday that bulk-billing for those working Australians has increased by about eight per cent across Australia since November, but that increase is 21 per cent in the Territory. It's a 21 per cent increase for working Australians in just three months, which means that the total bulk-billing rate in the Northern Territory has already almost reached 90 per cent. It's now 89½ per cent. I tell you, Mr Speaker, that shows the value the Territory gets for two amazing local MPs and from a government that's determined to strengthen Medicare.