Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Delivering cost-of-living relief and accessible, quality health care is a key priority for the Albanese Labor government. Last week the Prime Minister secured a historic funding deal to deliver record funding to state and territory hospitals and secure the future of the NDIS. What has the government done to deliver high-quality health services for all Australians through the National Health Reform Agreement?

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

Thank you, Senator Whiteaker, for that question, because last week's agreement really matters. It means $25 billion in additional funding for our public hospital systems. It means that the Albanese Labor government will deliver three times more additional funding for public hospitals than under the last five-year agreement, supporting the doctors and the nurses who are the backbone of our public health system. It means that, under this deal delivered by the Prime Minister, Commonwealth funding for state-run hospitals will reach a record $219.6 billion in the period to 2031.

While those opposite have been entirely focused on themselves, meeting in shuttered rooms and trying to work out a way to depose their first female leader, our government—the Albanese government—has been focused on delivering better health services for Australians. That should be good news for every Australian because it means people get the quality public health care that they need. It also means that our government can take the next steps to secure the future of the NDIS. Our government will work with the states and territories to target annual cost increases of five to six per cent so that this life-changing scheme is here for the long term, with $2 billion matched by the states and territories to deliver the first phase of foundational supports: Thriving Kids.

I want to pay tribute to the work done by Minister Butler and Professor Oberklaid to establish that national model for Thriving Kids. I want to assure the mums and dads—and the broader disability community—that we have listened to them. We will make sure that states and territories have enough time to roll this out. The rollout will now commence from 1 October 2026, with full implementation by 1 January 2028.

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

Senator Whiteaker, first supplementary?

Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On this side of the chamber, we want all Australians to access high-quality care where and when they need it. How is the Albanese Labor government working to help relieve pressure on state hospital systems in delivering high-quality care for all Australians?

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

We are expanding the availability of free urgent health care. There are now 122 Medicare urgent care clinics open across Australia. Australians have made more than two million visits to Labor's free Medicare urgent care clinics. One-third of those patients are kids under the age of 15. Think about all those mums and dads who've been able to go there rather than to the hospital to get support for their children.

Nearly half of the patients who attended a Medicare urgent care clinic would have used a hospital emergency department if no clinic were available. Thirty per cent of visits to Medicare urgent care clinics have taken place on weekends; 25 per cent of patients have attended after 5 pm on weekdays. These clinics are filling a gap in our health system that those opposite did absolutely nothing to address.

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

Senator Whiteaker, second supplementary?

Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that delivering high-quality primary care will take pressure off local hospitals. How is the Albanese Labor government making sure that every Australian can see a GP so that they don't have to go to a local hospital?

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

In May last year, the Australian people voted for a government that would stand up for public health care and for the principle of universal health care. We made that commitment to the Australian people, and we're keeping it. The Albanese Labor government has delivered the largest ever investment in the history of Medicare. Since our investment started on November 1, there are now 3,200 Medicare bulk-billing practices nationwide. Over 1,200 of those clinics were previously mixed billing. It makes such a difference. It means more people will be able to see a GP and fewer people will have to resort to sitting in their local emergency department. That is what delivering for Australians actually looks like. So, while those on the other side have spent all this time entirely focused on themselves, we have been focused on the needs of the Australian people.

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

I ask that further questions be placed on notice.