STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms MASCARENHAS (Swan) (13:52): Sliding doors—these are moments in your life when you realise that your life could have changed quite significantly. My mum and dad grew up in Kenya, and my dad had six brothers and sisters. All of his brothers and sisters migrated to the USA.

We were the only ones who migrated to Australia. When I think of my cousins in the US and I think of my life here in Australia, I realise that I am so grateful for all the opportunities and all the things that happen in Australia and some of the things that make Australia a truly extraordinary country—minimum wage, superannuation, paid parental leave and, of course, Medicare.

Who was it that introduced those policies? It was the great Australian Labor Party. Earlier today in the Federation Chamber, I was listening to the member for Macarthur talking about when he first opened his practice, which was the same day that we introduced the Medicare system that we have today.

He saw the way that Medicare transformed health outcomes for Australians. Labor built Medicare, and, of course, we will protect it. One of the great things about this job is having the opportunity to listen and act.

I remember speaking to a man who was distraught about the bulk-billing rates in his community. In Swan, there were 11 Medicare bulk-billing clinics. We now have 22.

We saw bulk-billing rates of 67 per cent. It is now 75 per cent.