Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Hansard source

The Albanese government was elected with a clear mandate, and that was to strengthen Medicare after a decade of cuts and neglect, and we do that so it is easier for Australians to see a doctor for free. We're getting on with it. Thanks to our historic investment in Medicare, more Australians are, in fact, seeing a GP for free. In the last June quarter, across Australia, we saw the bulk-billing rate rise to 84.1 per cent. We should be very clear about what that means in practice. For your community in Victoria, Senator Ananda-Rajah, more than 85 per cent of visits to the GP were bulk-billed in that last quarter. That is five per cent higher than in the current quarter and that does mean that mums and dads are taking a sick little one to the GP for free. It does mean that a young apprentice who has twisted his ankle on site can get it checked out without worrying about the bill. It means thousands and thousands of Australians who might otherwise have to put off seeing a doctor are getting the care when they need it.