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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. We on this side of the chamber believe that the only card you need to see a doctor is your Medicare card, not your credit card.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

You hate bulk-billing. That's why the Albanese Labor government—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order, Senator Ananda-Rajah!

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

I had my hand out. This is a point.

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

Order! It's not a debate between senators.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I'm gesturing towards you. That is true, but it's not a pointing, is it?

Opposition senators interjecting—

A five-fingered point—okay. Don't gesture.

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

Order!

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

President. I couldn't even hear Senator Ananda-Rajah because of the yelling and shouting from the opposition frontbench to my right, and I would ask you to draw them to order.

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

Thank you, Minister Wong. As you know, I did draw the senators to order. I remind senators once again that, when a senator is asking a question, it's your job to listen in silence and not to interject. Please continue, Senator. I think we might start the question again, so please start again.

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

Thank you, President. My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Senator McAllister. We on this side of the chamber believe that the only card you need when you see a doctor is your Medicare card and not a credit card. That's why the Albanese Labor government delivered a historic investment in Medicare to help Australians access affordable health care. How is this investment helping more Australians see their GP for free?

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

I do thank Senator Ananda-Rajah for that question and her continued advocacy for Victorians and their health care, and I do note the sensitivity of those on the other side of the chamber, who seem so determined. Unbelievably, given the result that is delivered to them time and time again about the Australian public's desire for a properly funded public health system, they still fight against it, they still complain against it and they still rail against the investments that we are making in bulk-billing to repair the damage that was done over a decade by the people on that side, who appear unable to learn the lessons from their past.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Gallagher, on a point of order?

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

President, I just draw your attention to the very loud noise that's coming from those opposite. I can hardly hear Senator McAllister from where I'm sitting.

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

Thank you, Minister. As you are aware, I did call the chamber to order. I would ask senators, particularly on my left but also on my right, not to interject and—particularly on my left—to stop the running commentary.

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

The Albanese government was elected with a clear mandate, and that was to strengthen Medicare after a decade of cuts and neglect, and we do that so it is easier for Australians to see a doctor for free. We're getting on with it. Thanks to our historic investment in Medicare, more Australians are, in fact, seeing a GP for free. In the last June quarter, across Australia, we saw the bulk-billing rate rise to 84.1 per cent. We should be very clear about what that means in practice. For your community in Victoria, Senator Ananda-Rajah, more than 85 per cent of visits to the GP were bulk-billed in that last quarter. That is five per cent higher than in the current quarter and that does mean that mums and dads are taking a sick little one to the GP for free. It does mean that a young apprentice who has twisted his ankle on site can get it checked out without worrying about the bill. It means thousands and thousands of Australians who might otherwise have to put off seeing a doctor are getting the care when they need it.

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

I'll just wait for silence across the chamber, particularly on my right. Senator Ananda-Rajah, first supplementary?

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

Thank you for that comprehensive answer, Senator McAllister. Australians do not only get sick from nine to five. When an Australian gets ill or has a fall out of hours, when a regular GP is closed, a trip to the ED can feel like it's their only option. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering support to ensure that Australians are not left without care simply because of the time of the day?

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

I thank the senator for the question. Not only do we want Australians to be able to see a GP for free; we want them to have the healthcare advice and the care that they need, whatever the time of day. Babies do not generally check the clock before they get a fever. Kids do not wait until Monday morning to fall off their bike. In fact, in my experience, those injuries generally happen at about ten past eight on a Friday night. Life is not nine to five, and neither is getting sick. And that is exactly why our government has launched 1800MEDICARE. It provides Australians with free health advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it helps direct them to exactly the care that they need. If someone needs urgent GP care, the nurse can connect them with a free telehealth appointment with a 1800MEDICARE GP. This is what a government that believes in Medicare actually looks like. (Time expired)

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

Senator Ananda-Rajah, second supplementary?

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

No Australians should miss out on the health care they need simply because of where they live—

An opposition senator: Hear, hear!

I'm glad you agree! How is the Albanese Labor government making sure Australians can access affordable health care no matter where they live, and why has the government chosen this approach above others?

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

Thank you, Senator Ananda-Rajah. Again, this question provokes significant response from those opposite, doesn't it? Because, thanks to our record investment in Medicare—although people over there may not want to hear this news—bulk-billing is, in fact, rising in every state and territory. So it is rising in South Australia, Senator Ruston. And, Senator Nampijinpa Price, in the Northern Territory it is up 13 per cent. In my home state of New South Wales, it may be of interest to senators to know that it is up more than four per cent.

Labor knows what strengthening Medicare actually means for Australians. It means more people seeing a doctor and more people getting care without worrying about the bill. We know what Medicare means, but I was surprised to learn that not everybody does. Senator Ruston has recently asked the department, 'I'm keen to understand what Medicare—' (Time expired)