Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic condition in Australia, with prevalence quadrupling since the nineties. Not only does diabetes create significant health impacts; it also increases the risk of more than 50 other serious conditions, including heart disease and cancer, and adds further strain to an already stretched healthcare system. In Tassie, diabetes impacts two in five people under 65, with diabetes costing $190 million per year in health care in Tassie alone. This puts a massive strain on the health system, with diabetes to blame for one in six occupied hospital beds. What is the government doing to specifically reduce the burden of diabetes and its complications in those living with the condition? Will you be committing more funding in the budget?

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

Senator Tyrrell, the last part of your question asks me to provide an insight into what will be in the budget. I don't mean to disappoint you too much, but that won't be something I can do today; that is something you will have to wait for in the budget.

The government understands that the burden of disease in Australia and the nature of that burden is changing. It was once the case that acute presentations were almost the exclusive focus of health investment. We now, as our demographics change and as our health needs change, understand that chronic diseases like diabetes have a far more significant impact on communities that we serve, and our government understands how important the primary health system is in responding to that. These factors absolutely underpinned our decision to invest as heavily as we have in Medicare and in the role of GPs in local communities.

As your question indicates, there is a relationship between access to primary health and the demands placed on our hospital system. It's why we've made the investments we have to lift bulk-billing. When we came to government, bulk-billing was in freefall under those opposite. We are making an $8½ billion investment to lift Medicare again, to get bulk-billing back on track. In your own home state, we are starting to see the fruits of that investment. We are starting to see greater numbers of bulk-billing clinics, more opportunities for people in your communities to see a doctor and urgent care clinics that allow people to see a doctor for free. These are significant investments that are designed to support Australians across the health conditions that confront them, particularly through investments in primary care.

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

Senator Tyrrell, first supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Way back in 2023, your government and current health minister started an inquiry into diabetes. The committee released its report in mid-2024, almost two years ago, yet we are still waiting for a government response. Where is it? Why won't you respond to an inquiry that you asked for? Why don't you care about diabetes anymore?

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

Senator Tyrrell, this government does care about access to primary care, and we have put our money where our mouth is through the investments that we are making in primary health care, particularly in bulk-billing. I've been really pleased to report to this Senate over many months the impact that that investment is having—seeing bulk-billing rates rise across our communities. This is really pleasing. Since October 2023 the bulk-billing rate in Tasmania has changed by 6.3 percentage points. That is very, very significant for your community. In Tasmania, 138,000 people have access to Medicare urgent care clinics. These are very significant investments, and they go to the chronic health conditions that we understand are impacting on Australian communities.

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

Senator Tyrrell, second supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The inquiry into diabetes recommended that subsidised access to continuous glucose monitors be further expanded, including removing the age limitations on subsidised access for type 1 diabetes patients. Will you stand up today and commit to expanding the subsidy on these vital diabetes tools?

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

Thanks very much, Senator Tyrrell. I concede that I do not have in front of me—I'm representing the Minister for Health and Ageing—information about that specific intervention, but I can tell you that we do take diabetes and its impacts on our communities very seriously. The report that you referred to in your first supplementary did shine a light on a very serious public health issue, and we are committing to delivering for Australians with diabetes. That has included securing the listing of Fiasp—if I have that pronunciation correct—on the PBS and delivering on our election commitment to give all 130,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes access to subsidised CGM products under the National Diabetes Services Scheme.