Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 because this bill strengthens Medicare and modernises our health system and makes it fairer for patients, doctors and communities right across Australia.

For Western Australians, particularly those in our regions and remote areas, this bill is about more than just administrative fixes; it's about addressing those inequities in access, in the workforce and in the outcomes that have persisted for far too long. Medicare is one of Labor's proudest achievements, and it was built on the belief that, no matter your postcode, your income or your background, you should be able to see a doctor when you need one. This bill carries forward a vision that is about cutting red tape and modernising the systems that support our health workers.

Right now it takes too long for new doctors and health practitioners to get their Medicare provider number. For overseas trained professionals, that delay can be up to a couple of months—months that could have been spent treating patients in our communities that are crying out for care. This legislation changes that. It allows the Chief Executive Medicare to use secure computer systems to automatically issue a provider number where the decision is straightforward, while keeping human oversight in place for anything that's complex or discretionary. It is a simple, practical change that means doctors, nurses and allied health professionals can start the work they need to do much sooner. In places like the Goldfields, the Wheatbelt and the Great Southern areas of my home state of Western Australia, where the nearest GP can be up to hundreds of kilometres away, that matters a lot.

Another key part of this bill is making bulk-billing fit for the 21st century. A law that underpins bulk-billing was written when everything was still done on paper. This bill gives patients and doctors the flexibility to assign Medicare benefits digitally and securely, and it also extends the time for clinics and software providers to transition to their new systems, ensuring that absolutely no-one misses out on the care they need. Labor is delivering the largest investment in bulk-billing in Medicare's history, with $7.9 billion to make sure that all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card, to access world-class health care. This legislation ensures that Labor can deliver on those reforms.

The bill also strengthens our ability to get more doctors in regional, remote and outer metropolitan areas. Under the old Bonded Medical Program, if a bonded doctor failed to complete their return-of-service obligation, they could have faced a six-year ban—a blunt penalty that punished not just the doctor but the very communities that needed their care the most. Under the reformed system, we'll ensure that doctors who've acted in good faith, working in rural hospitals, Aboriginal medical services or regional clinics, will have their contributions recognised. It is a fairer system that supports doctors and, importantly, the patients they serve. For First Nations communities, continuity of care is vital. So when bonded doctors are supported, rather than penalised, communities retain trust and stability in their local health services.

At the heart of this bill is integrity, efficiency and equity. Australians deserve to know that every taxpayer dollar is handled properly and that our public and our private systems work together to keep health care affordable. This bill will strengthen the integrity of the private health insurance rebate system so that the $7 billion paid to insurers each year is managed lawfully and transparently. Our government's approach is very simple. We modernise where it makes sense; we reduce red tape when it gets in the way, and we make sure fairness and accountability stay at the core of Medicare.

As a Yamatji Noongar woman who was born in the great southern region, in my home town of Kojonup in regional WA, I know that the health system has not always worked equally for everyone. Too many regional and remote communities still face unacceptable gaps in accessing doctors, specialists and mental health care. That's why bills like this one are so important. Every time we make Medicare faster, fairer and stronger, we take another step towards health equity—towards a system that truly serves all Australians.

It's really simple. This bill is about making health care and the healthcare system work better for patients, for healthcare workers and for communities that rely on them. It's about ensuring that the next doctor who wants to serve in Kalgoorlie or Albany does not have to wait months for a provider number. It's about ensuring that a patient in Leonora can be bulk-billed by their GP service just as easily as someone in Fremantle. It's about ensuring that Medicare, one of Labor's proudest legacies, continues to grow stronger for generations to come. I commend this bill to the Senate.