Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's talk about that great Labor legacy—it may be the greatest Labor legacy—Medicare. That's a bit controversial, but I think it's a good call. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Delivering affordable health care when and where Australians need it is a key priority for the Albanese Labor government. How is the government making it easier for Australians to see a doctor or a nurse when they need urgent care?

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

Thank you very much for the question, Senator Ananda-Rajah. Our commitment to the Australian people is very clear, and you are part of that, Senator, as a key advocate for public health in our caucus. We are a government that seeks to strengthen Medicare. We are a government that seeks to rebuild our system of universal health care, and there are now 130 Medicare urgent care clinics open across Australia.

Australians have made 2.6 million visits to urgent care clinics, and they are game changers for families. One-third of patients are under the age of 15, and the clinics are giving more and more working families across our suburbs access to the urgent care that they need. Once we open the full range of urgent care clinics, four out of five Australians will live within a 20-minute drive of one of these clinics. These services are making and will make a material difference to people's lives. But it turns out that what some people see as commonsense, practical policy draws out some pretty notable distinctions across the chamber.

We say that urgent care clinics help free up space in our hospital emergency rooms and local general practices for the people who need help most. Those opposite and the new leader of the opposition say that funding for urgent care clinics is wasteful spending. We say that the only card you should need to access the care that you need is your Medicare card, and those opposite and the new shadow treasurer say that we ought to see—

Opposition senators interjecting —

You might want to listen to what your shadow Treasurer has said. He said that we ought to see the transfer of healthcare funding from government to individuals. It's an interesting idea because, if the shadow Treasurer gets his way, the only card that will get you health care might be a platinum Amex. That might work well for the shadow Treasurer, but it won't work for the vast majority of the Australian people.

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

Senator Ananda-Rajah, first supplementary?

Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. A hundred and thirty urgent care clinics is something to sing from the rooftops. When it comes to getting quality health care, all you should need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. How is the Albanese Labor government's record investment in Medicare helping more Australians see a GP?

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

That's pretty borderline, Senator Ruston. Not only were you rude in interjecting but that's a term we don't use in this place.

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

Thank you for the question. The Albanese Labor government's historic $8.5 billion investment in bulk-billing has delivered a historic result. You can see that the bulk-billing rate has gone up in every state and territory across the nation. Again, what would seem to be a commonsense policy draws out some really interesting distinctions between us and those opposite. We say, 'We'll expand the bulk-billing incentive across the board.' The opposition leader says, 'Let's freeze the Medicare rebate for six years,' and advocates for extending this approach to the entire health system. We say, 'More people should be able to access a bulk-billing doctor and see a GP.' The shadow Treasurer says, 'People should have an individual health account that they contribute to on a periodic basis with their income.' What a marvellous idea from Mr Wilson—treating health care like a time share in a chalet! (Time expired)

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

Senator Ananda-Rajah, second supplementary?

Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that those opposite stare at their phones when we talk about Medicare. That's how interested they are in Medicare and the Australian people. The Albanese Labor government—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Ananda-Rajah, please resume your seat. I need silence because I can't hear the question. Please continue.

Michelle Ananda-Rajah (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government delivered cost-of-living relief to all Australians by strengthening Medicare and cutting the cost of medicines on the PBS in its first term. How is the government helping more Australians access cheaper medicines via the PBS? Are there any risks to these important measures?

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

Thanks to the Albanese Labor government, PBS medicines are now the cheapest that they've been for 20 years. The last time they were this cheap was 2004. That is a 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of medicines under the PBS. And it means that Australians will save around $200 million a year. But, if the Liberals and the Nationals and One Nation had their way, the maximum PBS general patient co-payment would have been more than $50 in 2026. Under those opposite—they're all very quiet—families right across the country would have been paying twice as much as they are paying now.

Again, you can't help but notice the emerging theme. Under the Albanese Labor government, medicines are cheaper. There are free Medicare urgent care clinics and more and more bulk-billing practices. Under those opposite, you'd need to take out some kind of bizarre timeshare subscription to see a GP.