Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Liberals and Nationals neglected the healthcare system. They left public hospitals under enormous strain, medical staff exhausted, a GP shortage, a bulk-billing system on the verge of collapse—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, I am very sorry to have to sit you down mid-question. Order on my left! The interjections across the chamber are incredibly disorderly, Senator Henderson. Senator Urquhart, could you begin your question again? Please reset the clock.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Liberals and Nationals neglected the healthcare system. They left public hospitals under enormous strain, medical staff exhausted, a GP shortage, a bulk-billing system on the verge of collapse and out-of-pocket costs skyrocketing. The Albanese government is investing to strengthen Medicare and improve health services for all Australians. Why is Medicare a priority for the Albanese government and why is the government investing to deliver better healthcare for all Australians?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, on a point of order—standing order 73(1)—can I please ask you to review the prelude to the question that was asked there. I'm noticing an increasing use by the government of making statements in their questions. In the rules for questions under 73(1), it says that questions shall not contain arguments and should not contain imputations and lists other factors that they should not contain. Whilst there is a latitude given, the government is starting to abuse that latitude with the extent of arguments that are made in the questions that are put. The opportunity to make those arguments exists in the answers that ministers get to make rather than in the questions asked by those opposite.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham, I certainly will. Senator Wong, on the point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, President, whilst you do that, I wonder if you could review with the same lens and by the same principles that this man articulates, the question this senator articulates, all of the questions that the opposition have asked this week, to see if they can meet their own principles.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I know you're vain, but you don't like the fact that the principle might apply to you, do you?

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order on my left!

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Give her an Oscar!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McGrath, I have just called the chamber to order, and you are being disorderly, along with a number of other senators. I would ask senators to reflect on what happened. We had Senator Birmingham on his feet, and it was largely silent in here. Senator Birmingham is entitled to make whatever point of order he does, and he was listened to in respectful silence. Senator Wong is also able to make a contribution on the same point of order, and yet the chamber becomes disorderly. This is not appropriate. Senator Urquhart, I believe you've finished your question? Senator Wong, I'm asking you to respond to Senator Urquhart's question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very happy to talk about Medicare. I know those opposite may not be. But Labor built Medicare and, unlike those opposite, we will always protect it. Our government is delivering stronger foundations, a better future for all Australians—

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Mediscare' texts!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I know you really can't bear it, can you, Senator Henderson, that we might actually care about Medicare. I know in your DNA, the coalition DNA—they've never supported Medicare.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Constant interjections are disorderly, Senator Henderson and Senator McGrath.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm trying to work out if it's just me or the word 'Medicare' which triggers that reflex.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Here we go again! We know that cutting Medicare is in the Liberal DNA. You simply can't trust the Liberals and the Nationals on Medicare—the party of the GP tax, the party that tried to charge for emergency department visits, the party that's all about increasing the cost of medicine and now opposing the reduction in the cost of medicine. Unlike those opposite, we take Medicare seriously, because Labor always have. Labor always have. Look at what we are delivering. We are tripling the bulk-billing incentives for children, benefiting all—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both sides of the chamber! There are too many interjections senator to senator across the chamber. Senators are entitled to ask their questions and to have them answered in silence. Please stop the disrespectful interjections across the chamber.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The evidence is in what we have already delivered as a government or are delivering: tripling the bulk-billing incentives for children, a benefit to all Australian families and the most vulnerable; helping pensioners and concession card holders; cutting the price of PBS medicines, down from $42.50 to $30; reducing the cost of medicines through 60-day dispensing that will save general medicine patients hundreds of dollars a year—also opposed by the 'no-alition'. We are investing in the healthcare workforce and we are delivering a $1.5 billion boost to indexation of Medicare rebates.

Senator Ruston, I know you hate it. But we are the party of Medicare. We are the party of Medicare, and you are not.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, first supplementary?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After the Liberals and Nationals neglected the healthcare system over nearly a decade, primary health care in this country was in urgent need of repair. How is the Albanese Labor government rebuilding primary health care in Australia, and why is this so important?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Urquhart, for that question. From fast and affordable access to a GP to crucial check-ups to prevent serious illness, the Albanese government understands the importance of primary health care and is investing in it. It's vital for people, it's vital for Australians, and it's also vital for the healthcare system because, without strong primary health care, emergency departments and local hospitals face extra pressure.

And we know this. How do we know this? We know this because that's what happened under them. We know those opposite deliberately ran down Medicare and general practice. We know that Mr Dutton, in his first budget as health minister, tried to abolish bulk billing. Oh! This side is very quiet now, are they? You tried to abolish bulk billing. That's Peter Dutton's real plan for Medicare. He wanted to abolish bulk billing. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Urquhart, a second supplementary?

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian National Audit Office recently released their report Administration of the Community Health and Hospitals Program. What were the findings of this review? And why is it important that every health dollar is invested wisely?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, we do know that not only did Mr Dutton try to introduce a GP tax—and we do know what happened under the Morrison government and the way in which Medicare was run down. But it wasn't just that they didn't care. They were also prepared to rort it, and the Australian National Audit Office report lays bare the rorts and mismanagement of the government that was populated by those opposite. Do you know what the Audit Office found? Your program, the Community Health and Hospitals Program, was effectively a $2 billion slush fund—a $2 billion slush fund, engaged in with no regard for proper process or good governance. The report found that:

… administration of CHHP grants was not appropriate, involving deliberate breaches of the relevant legal requirements and the principles underpinning them.

Maybe, Senator Cash, you might want to talk about legal requirements. (Time expired)