Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Uh-uh—it is not as if we have not given you the opportunity to consider these important issues. Today, finally—thank you so much—we have had a question about the economy. This is the first question about the economy we have heard in five sitting weeks. Finally today we have had a question about health—the first question about health that we had heard in five sitting weeks. Finally today we have had a question about employment—the first question about employment in five weeks. My faith is somewhat restored.

Terrifically, though, I have been grateful for the inertia of those opposite over the past five weeks—though, yes, it has been bewildering—because, by persisting with the inane questions on matters entirely unrelated to the lives of ordinary Australians, those opposite have fallen into the hands of the government and given us a stick with which to beat them. Today they have actually given us an opportunity to sing the praises of this government's strong economic plan for jobs and growth and its support for Medicare.

It is extraordinary that the greatest lie ever perpetuated in a federal election persists in the face of bulk-billing rates rising yet again. The 'Mediscare' experiment has failed. This is clearly a government that supports Medicare. Medicare investment has continued to rise under the Turnbull government and so have GP bulk-billing rates. Official Medicare figures for the September 2016 quarter showed unequivocally that GP bulk-billing rates grew nearly one percentage point on the same time last year to 85.4 per cent—up from 84.6 per cent in the September 2015 quarter. This coincided with an extra half a million Medicare funded GP services for that September quarter, taking total Medicare GP investment to $1.9 billion for the period. GP bulk-billing rates remain the highest in history under the coalition, and no amount of Mediscare lies from Bill Shorten, or from those opposite in this chamber, can change that. An extra 17 million GP services were bulk-billed under the coalition last year compared with Labor.

This is also a fantastic opportunity for us to speak on the extremely pleasing economic indicators that Senator Brandis referred to earlier today. Our economy is strong. Growth is strong. The Australian economy is growing at over three per cent per annum—3.3 per cent. Our economy is growing faster than any of the G7 economies and at over double the speed of Canada's, a comparable resource-rich economy. This government's economic plan is the foundation upon which we can build a brighter and more secure future in a stronger economy with more jobs. This government is delivering on its promise of a growing, thriving and prosperous economy for all Australians—not just for Tasmanians, Senator Brown, but for all Australians. All Australians are winners in a growing, thriving and prosperous economy, and I am proud to be part of this government, which is delivering on its promises. (Time expired)