Carol Brown (Tasmania, 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. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government delivered cost-of-living relief to all Australians by cutting the cost of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. On 1 January, the government continued its record, delivering more affordable and accessible health care to Australians. How is the government delivering cheaper medicines for all Australians?

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

Thank you, Senator Brown. Since 1 January, I think you'll all know, there's been a lot of discussion about the year 2016 and there have been a lot of senators jumping on this trend—the difference between 2016 and 2026. I'd actually suggest that the date we should be talking about is probably 2004, because that is the last time that PBS medicines were as cheap as they are now.

From 1 January this year, families are paying no more than $25 when they are filling a prescription on the PBS. That is a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of medicines under the PBS. It means that Australians will save more than $200 million a year. We've also frozen the cost of PBS medicines for pensioners and concession cardholders. That cost is frozen at its current level of $7.70 until 2030.

But, as Senator Gallagher has already reminded the chamber, every single one of these measures was opposed by the Liberals, by the Nationals and by One Nation. They have been so busy focusing on themselves, looking for political angles and focusing on their internal factional arrangements. If they had got their way—if the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation had got their way—the maximum PBS general patient copayment would be more than $50 in 2026. I'll be really clear. Under those opposite, people would be paying twice as much per script as they are paying now, and it tells you everything about their priorities. They have got a lot of agendas, but helping Australian families is not one of them.

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

Senator Brown, first supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, helping Australians access affordable health care when and where they need it is a priority of the Albanese Labor government. In the new year, how has the government delivered new supports so Australians have even greater access to health care?

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

From 1 January, if you need expert health advice, or reassurance, every Australian can get free health advice through 1800MEDICARE, and the registered nurses are there 24/7. They are there to provide advice and refer you to the health service that you need, whether that's your regular GP, your local hospital or a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. If you do need urgent assistance, the triage nurses can connect you to a free telehealth session with a 1800MEDICARE GP via phone or via video. They will also be available all weekend and on weeknights between 6 pm and 8 am. We expect that about 250,000 Australians will avoid an unnecessary trip to a hospital emergency department each year thanks to 1800MEDICARE. If you need mental health support you can access Medicare's free Mental Health Check In service, because we want to make sure Australians can access free mental health care when they need it. (Time expired)

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

Senator Brown, second supplementary?

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how do the new measures delivered on 1 January complement other actions that the Albanese Labor government is taking to strengthen Medicare and improve Australia's primary healthcare system? Why has the government chosen this approach?

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. They are giving our hospitals, our GPs and our communities the support that they need. The Albanese Labor government has also delivered the largest investment in the history of Medicare—$8½ billion—and since our investment started there are now 3,300 Medicare bulk-billing practices nationwide. Over 1,200 of those clinics were previously mixed billing under the arrangements that were put in place by those opposite. That's why we take the approach we do. We had to take action. Under those opposite the bulk-billing rates were in freefall because of the coalition's six-year freeze of the Medicare rebate, which ripped billions out of the Medicare system.