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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. During the election campaign, the Prime Minister promised Australians that when they visit the doctor, 'Under Labor, all you will need is your Medicare card, not your credit card.' The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing estimates that 23 per cent of GP clinics will not take up the bulk-billing incentive. Can the minister confirm whether the Prime Minister still stands by his promise that every Australian will need only their Medicare card when they visit the GP?

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

It's very clear that, during the election, the Australian people voted for the only party that they trust to deliver stronger Medicare, and that is, of course, the party that created Medicare. We are the party that created Medicare and had to do so against the wishes of the coalition. It was built once by a Labor government, torn down by a coalition government and then rebuilt. We know that for many years the Liberals sought to tear it down. Then they changed tactics and pretended that they actually supported it, but we all know what their real agenda is, and we saw it again, for example, in the 2014 budget, when the former leader of the opposition—

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

Senator Ruston?

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

On a matter of relevance, I don't believe that the minister is going anywhere near answering the very simple question that I asked in relation to the Prime Minister standing by a promise that he made.

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

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I will draw Minister Wong to that part of your question.

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

The Prime Minister made very clear what our position was—that we were expanding, very substantially, on the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive that was put in place in November 2023, the largest investment in bulk billing in history. That's why more than nine in ten visits to the GP were free for people eligible for the incentive. Since we've tripled the investment, we've seen a turnaround in bulk billing, and we have seen bulk billing increase in every state. This was—

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

Senator Ruston?

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

Once again, on relevance, I was very clear in my question about the Prime Minister's promise that Australians would need only their Medicare card when they went to the doctor. She has not gone anywhere near addressing that question.

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

I did draw the minister to your question, and the minister is being relevant to your question.

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

In relation to the modelling of the program, which I think is really the nub of what you're asking, on page 1 of the media release announcing the policy prior to the election campaign, the modelling shows that three-quarters of practices will be fully bulk billing, and that will take us to nine in ten visits to the GP being bulk billed. That was the clear position that was put out. As I recall, Senator Ruston, you sought to match the policy. Unfortunately, Australians didn't trust you with it.

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

Senator Ruston, first supplementary?

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

Once again, the Prime Minister promised Australians during the campaign that, when they went to see the GP, all they would need is their Medicare card, not their credit card. Could the minister please advise how many people in the last quarter had an out-of-pocket cost when they visited their GP?

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

Senator Ruston, you would know that data is published. You would also know, as I explained in November of 2023, the government has progressively increased the bulk-billing rate and made an additional commitment, in the context of the last budget, in relation to additional bulk-billing incentives. The government's modelling estimates lead us to be confident that nine in 10 GP visits will be free by the end of the decade, which is what the Prime Minister was very clear about during the campaign.

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

Senator Ruston, second supplementary?

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

Minister, I'd be keen to understand what the average out-of-pocket cost for visiting a GP was in the last 12 months, and can the minister explain her comment in her previous answer that the government 'increased the bulk-billing rate'?

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

I probably should have used the term 'incentive', if that's what you're referencing, but thank you for picking me up on that. I'm very grateful.

We tripled the bulk-billing incentive and then we extended the tripling of the bulk-billing incentive to more Australians, because we are the party that actually wants to ensure that Medicare is strengthened for Australians. If you have an issue with that, Senator Ruston, that is unfortunate.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston?

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

I was wondering whether the minister might come to the question, which is what the average out-of-pocket costs were for Australians.

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

Thank you. That was part of your question—

Order! Senator Ruston, you've just called a point of order—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is Medicare still 'unsustainable', Anne?

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

Senator Watt!—and I'm responding to that point of order. That was part of your question. The minister is being relevant to the whole of your question. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

Thank you. As I said, the senator would be aware that the government is transparent about those figures. Those figures are released regularly, and the senator spends a lot of time in Senate estimates asking questions about them.

I would also make the point that this is the same senator who described Medicare as 'unsustainable'. We on this side believe that it is important for governments, it is imperative for governments, to continue to invest in bulk-billing, and I'm sorry, Senator Ruston, if you have an issue with that.