Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2025. I do so because the bill takes steps to improve our health system by removing fees imposed on the pathology sector for certain categories of applications. It directly responds to the findings of the 2022 health portfolio charging review, which made it clear that current fees were misaligned with the broader Commonwealth charging framework. This reform is both sensible and necessary. It provides meaningful relief for the pathology sector, reduces red tape and supports the efficient delivery of essential health services. By repealing these fees it helps ensure that laboratories can focus more on delivering high-quality accurate testing services without being bogged down by unnecessary administrative burdens. Let me be very clear: the coalition support this bill because we understand the crucial role pathology plays in our health system. Whether it be diagnosing cancers, managing chronic illness or detecting infections, accurate pathology services underpin nearly every element of modern health care. The bill will maintain stringent    accreditation and quality-assurance standards to ensure continued public confidence in Medicare-eligible pathology services. Importantly, this bill has the backing of key stakeholders in the pathology sector, including the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, Australian Pathology and Public Pathology Australia.

While this is a positive step forwards, it does not make up for the broader failings of this government when it comes to Medicare. Under this government it has never been harder or more expensive to see your doctor. Let's look at the facts. Since Labor came to power Medicare bulk-billing has fallen by 11 per cent. GP bulk-billing has dropped from over 88 per cent to 77 per cent, a fall that equates to 40 million fewer GP visits in the past year alone. Out-of-pocket costs to see a GP have skyrocketed. According to the government's own national accounts these costs are the highest on record. More than 1.5 million Australians avoided seeing the doctor last year because they simply couldn't afford to go. This is a damning indictment of a government that promised to strengthen Medicare. Remember what the Prime Minister said in the election campaign? He looked every Australian in the eye and said:

Under Labor all you'll need is your Medicare card, not your credit card.

The reality of everyday Australians tells a very different story. Millions of Australians are pulling their credit card out to pay for essential health care, and those credit cards are being charged the highest amount on record. They are paying more than they've ever paid before. What's worse is that the department of health's own incoming government brief, released under FOI, estimated that nearly a quarter of GP clinics would not bulk-bill. The Prime Minister must have known this when he made his now infamous Medicare stunt campaign. At a time when Australians are struggling with the rising cost of living they're being forced to pay more to see a GP than they ever have before. In fact in the month of May, the month of the election, while the PM was travelling across the country with his Medicare card in his pocket, Australians paid a combined total of $166 million at the GP—just in that month. In the past year alone Australians paid more than $2 billion in out-of-pocket costs to see their GP. This is the Prime Minister's $2 billion lie.

While Labor treat Medicare like their political plaything, the coalition remains focused on ensuring families can get affordable and timely access to health care. We have a proud record on delivering Medicare. Funding increased every year under the coalition, growing from $18.6 billion in 2012-13 under Labor, to more than $30 billion in 2021-22. And bulk-billing was higher under the coalition; when we left office it sat at around 88 per cent. We also invested in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, listing 2,900 new or amended medicines, and made cheaper medicines a reality for thousands of Australians.

And we made mental health a national priority. Labor's track record on mental health, on the other hand, is a complete failure. They slashed Medicare funded mental-health sessions in half, against the advice of experts and their own reviews. They abolished the National Mental Health Commission. They've defunded the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund. And, under their watch, access to Medicare mental-health support has dropped to a 10-year low, while demand has never been higher.

So, once again, while we support this bill, Australians deserve better from their government. They deserve a government that tells the truth about Medicare and that actually delivers on its promises. The coalition will continue to hold the Anthony Albanese Labor government to account on Medicare, on the cost of living and on access to affordable care. We support this bill, but we will not be silent on the broader failures of this government, which are leaving Australians worse off. We will support the bill.