STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr LAXALE (Bennelong) (13:59): An important date in world history is 1 November. In 1945 Australia became a founding member of the United Nations, and in 1993 the European Union was officially established. It also happens to be World Vegan Day.

My good friend the member for Macnamara, parliament's most infamous vegan, will be celebrating, no doubt, with a fresh glass of calcium fortified plant milk. The rest of us will be out in our communities talking about the huge changes in Medicare, thanks to the Albanese Labor government. From 1 November, our biggest ever investment in Medicare comes into force, meaning it will start to become easier for people across the country to see a GP.

Our effective bulk-billing incentives will apply to every patient—not just children, not just cardholders but every single Medicare cardholder, and it is already having an impact. I can tell the House that the Myhealth GP clinic at Top Ryde shopping centre will switch from having a $35 gap fee to being a fully bulk-billed Medicare practice from 1 November. These things happen not because of the Liberals and Nationals but because of Labor.

We created Medicare, we protected Medicare and we will always strengthen it.