Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
2:37 pm
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
Thank you, Senator Ruston. It is good to see the interest in health, and I am certainly interested to know more about your position on Medicare. There is certainly no higher priority for this government in the health portfolio than strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice. After nine years of cuts and neglect by the former government, primary care was in the worst shape it had been in in 40 years and bulk-billing rates were in freefall. The former government froze the Medicare rebate for six years, ripping billions of dollars out of primary care and causing gap fees—
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
It's a point of order on relevance. My question was very tight. It was in relation to what the bulk-billing rate is today. I'd ask you to bring the minister's attention back to my question.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
In the 2024-25 budget and 2024-25 MYEFO, the government provided $34.8 million over two years for the general practice incentives fund—
Sue Lines President
Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. Senator Cash?
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
It is a point of order on relevance. A little like the housing question, our questions are drafted quite specifically.
Sue Lines President
Senator Cash, you need to just get to the point of order.
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
We're asking for figures. The question says: the bulk-billing rate—what is it now?
Sue Lines President
Yes, Senator Cash, and, as I just explained to Senator Ruston, it also made reference to rates before COVID. Minister Wong?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
President, I'd also submit to you that policy which is about addressing bulk-billing rates is entirely relevant to the answer. I know that the coalition may not like the fact that we are actually working to lift bulk-billing, but the minister is going directly to policies that are about bulk-billing.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Minister Wong. As I said to Senator Ruston, Senator Cash, on the same point of order, the minister is being relevant. I'll continue to listen carefully.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
We've tripled the investment. We've seen a turnaround in bulk-billing, a national increase—
Opposition senators interjecting—
If you'd let me finish—a national increase of 1.9 percentage points in the 14 months—
Sue Lines President
Minister McCarthy, please resume your seat. I have Senator Wong on her feet.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I ask if the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate could come to order.
Sue Lines President
I would like everyone in the chamber to come to order, particularly those on my left.
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
As I was saying, we have tripled the investment, and it's 77.5 per cent.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
2:40 pm
I thank the senator for eventually answering the question. So, yes, the bulk-billing rate that was announced—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order on my right and left!
Senator Cash, come to order.
The:
Senator Ayres, order! Senator Ruston has the right to ask her question in silence. I expect there to be silence as Senator Ruston continues with her question.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
Well, correct: the minister announced yesterday that the GP bulk-billing rate had increased to 77.5 per cent. Can you confirm that the bulk-billing rate in March was actually 77.7 per cent?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:42 pm
This from a shadow health minister who didn't want to believe, and didn't believe, that Medicare was sustainable. I'm not too sure, but what I can confirm to the Senate is that, six months before the last election, the financial viability of general practice was in serious trouble after the coalition's six-year freeze on Medicare rebates that started when Peter Dutton was health minister.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
Just for the record, in the timeframe the minister was referring to, the bulk-billing rate was 88 per cent to the time she was referring to. But right now Australians—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
The:
Order! I have requested of this chamber, at least three times today, that senators ask their questions in silence. I don't want to have to keep saying that.
Anne Ruston SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care
Australians are paying ever-increasing out-of-pocket costs when they visit their doctor. Can you confirm that the average out-of-pocket cost when you see your doctor today is now $44.89?
Malarndirri McCarthy NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians
2:43 pm
I can confirm to the Senate that this side of the Senate is very much interested in pushing for further GPs across the country and improving Medicare, unlike those opposite, who had nothing to do with it but wanting to freeze it and who don't care about the health of Australians, in spite of the numbers that they wish to put forward here today.