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 told Australians:

Under Labor all you'll need is your Medicare card, not your credit card.

Minister, can you confirm that all Australians will only need their Medicare card to see a GP, or did the Prime Minister mislead the voters?

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

I thank Senator Ruston for her question on Medicare, one of Australia's great achievements as a nation and, importantly for us on this side of the chamber, one of the great Labor achievements for our country. That is why Labor built Medicare, and that is why the Albanese Labor government has gone about strengthening Medicare. We have made the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, an $8½ billion package to deliver more bulk-billing and more doctors so that Australians can see a doctor for free. Australian patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year.

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

Senator Ruston, a point of order?

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

My question was very specific. The Prime Minister made a promise that the only thing that you would need when you went to the doctor would be your Medicare card. Could you direct the leader to be specific to that, because it appears as if the Prime Minister is misleading Australians.

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

Thank you, Senator Ruston. The minister is—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Just a moment, Senator Wong.

Order! Senator Ruston, withdraw that comment.

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

I withdraw.

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

Thank you.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I heard that!

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

Senator Watt, withdraw.

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

I withdraw.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He was saying it about me.

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

I beg your pardon. Well, that doesn't make it okay; it is still worthy of a withdrawal. Back to the point of order: the minister is being relevant, and I will continue to listen to her response.

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

Perhaps I should explain to Senator Ruston that actually that's what bulk-billing is about. It's about making sure that we do everything we can as a government to ensure that Australians can see a doctor for free, and the way you deliver that as a government is through bulk-billing, and that is why it does matter that we on this side of the chamber have made the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation. That is why it does matter that we on this side of the chamber have expanded bulk-billing incentives to all Australians and created an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk-bill every patient. This will mean that nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed by 2030. So, yes, Senator, that does all matter.

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

Are you rising on a point of order, Senator Ruston?

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

Yes, on relevance. My question was very specific. The Prime Minister made a statement—

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

Senator Ruston, there is no need to repeat the question.

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

No, I wasn't, actually—

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

The minister has gone directly to—

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

Could I finish my point of order?

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

Not by repeating the question.

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

No, I wasn't going to repeat what I'd asked. I asked a very specific question about a comment by the Prime Minister and I'm seeking to have the leader respond as to whether that is actually correct and whether she stands by the comments of the Prime Minister. Are they correct?

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

Thank you, Senator Ruston. The minister has gone to your question directly. Minister, please continue.

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

I always stand by the comments of the Prime Minister—unlike some of those opposite, who appear never to stand by the commitments of their leader. Yesterday we had the amazing example of the coalition running out of the chamber so they didn't have to vote differently on the net zero motion. The whip and the frontbencher disappeared.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I know it's embarrassing. (Time expired)

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

I invite you, Senator Ruston, to ask your first supplementary.

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

On the Today Show this morning the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Mark Butler, conceded that some Australians will need more than their Medicare card, stating, 'We never said that there would be 100 per cent bulk-billing.' This is at direct odds to what the Prime Minister's statement was: 'One card covers it all. Not your credit card—your Medicare card.' Who is correct, the Prime Minister or the minister?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! Minister Wong?

Honourable senators interjecting—

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Order across the chamber! I've called Senator Wong. Minister Wong?

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

The numbers I gave you—which are: nine out of 10 GP visits being bulk-billed by 2030—are exactly the same numbers that were provided in the campaign and formed part of the announcement. Senator Ruston, given that you encouraged Mr Dutton to sign up to the policy immediately, I assume that you also read the detail in the policy which made it clear that it was nine out of 10 visits to be bulk-billed by 2030.

Here is the question to the coalition: are they for more bulk-billing for Australians or not? One seems to discern from the question that Senator Ruston doesn't actually like the increase in the bulk-billing incentives, which are designed to ensure that nine out of 10 visits can be bulk-billed by 2030. We are a government that is proud to invest the largest investment in Medicare since its inception. It is a pity those opposite are still carping. (Time expired)

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

Now that the health minister has conceded Australians will in many cases still need their credit card to see a GP, how does the Prime Minister justify repeatedly continuing to tell the public that all they need when they go to the doctor is their Medicare card?

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

The Prime Minister, every single Labor member of parliament and senator, and every single Labor member of the party support Medicare. We are supporters of Medicare. That is the difference between this side and that side. Senator Ruston, I know you want to come in here and complain that somehow the election was stolen from you because nine out of 10 doesn't mean 10 out of 10, but if we can give you just a small piece of advice, it is this: maybe instead of engaging in the culture wars and the net zero fight you have been in for nearly 15 years, you could talk about things Australians are really interested in, like Medicare?

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

On a point of relevance, I am just seeking to understand about Medicare as to whether the Prime Minister is going to continue to tell Australians that all they need to go and see the doctor now is their Medicare card.

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

I will direct Senator Wong back to the question.

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

We are always happy to have a debate on Medicare, Senator Ruston. I think Australians know who they can trust when it comes to Medicare and, Senator Ruston, it is not your side of politics.