Rowan Holzberger (Forde, 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 lifting bulk-billing rates across Australia? Why is universal access to free GP visits 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

I thank the member for Forde. I think he and I first worked on a campaign together back in 1993, in the electorate of Makin for our common friend Peter Duncan. That was yet another election when the Liberal Party was promising to abolish Medicare. He learned and I learned then just how critically important it is for Labor to maintain the rage always to deliver the fundamental principles of that universal health program. That's why he fought so hard for our Strengthening Medicare agenda at the last election—to drive up bulk-billing rates in his electorate of Forde. We knew they were in freefall when we came to government in 2022, and the Treasurer's decision to triple the bulk-billing incentive in 2023 has meant that, already, the bulk-billing rate for pensioners and concession card holders has come right back over 90 per cent; it's over 91 per cent in the member's state of Queensland.

We knew that bulk-billing was continuing to slide for those Australians in Middle Australia who did not have the benefit of a concession card—continuing to slide because of the multiyear freeze to the Medicare rebate put in place by the former Liberal government. Our investments on 1 November, and the record investment in bulk-billing, have been so important for Middle Australia. I'm happy to report to the member for Forde that the number of practices that bulk-bill every single patient every single time they come into their practice has doubled in his electorate, which has one of 3,500 general practices in Australia who are now 100 per cent bulk-billing. We know on this side of the House just how important that is, but those on the other side never quite learn.

This is the third Liberal leader to sit opposite this Prime Minister. Each of them have tried desperately to differentiate themselves from the failures of their predecessor. But there is one thing that has united every single Liberal leader who has sat in that chair: basic opposition to the principles of Medicare. This latest leader is no different. He was a barracker for every single one of the cuts and pieces of neglect that the member for Forde talked about. When Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk-billing altogether and make every single person pay to go to see the doctor, there was no stronger supporter than the member for Hume. He said they'd be doing Australians a favour, because then they'd pay much more attention to every single GP visit they went to.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Page, on a point of order? I know it's about titles, but the Leader of the Opposition is the member for Hume, and it has been a regular occurrence with previous leaders as well. What's your point of order?

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is the member not acknowledging the Leader of the Opposition by that title. We could start referring to ministers as what member they are, of what seat they are, but we pay them respect as ministers. The Leader of the Opposition has an official title and respect under the standing orders, and I ask the minister to refer to him.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just ask everyone for a little bit of leeway with—

Prime Minister, you're not helping. There are some new titles in place. There are new positions in place, so I just want to be a bit lenient with everyone for the first week or so. If it continues, Member for Page—trust me, I'm aware of it. I'm monitoring it. You do not need to get up anymore. People are referring to those. We'll just allow everyone to settle in. The Minister for Health and Ageing will assist the House by referring to everyone by their correct titles.

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

The now Leader of the Opposition said, 'We know that, by putting a price on going to the doctor, GPs and their patients will look to use the doctor's time as effectively as they possibly can.' It was all a favour to individual patients. How out of touch could you possibly be with the reality of the household budgets of Middle Australia?