STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms JORDAN-BAIRD (Gorton) (13:53): Today I wear green and gold. It's the colour of our mighty Socceroos that they wear when they're repping Australia in the FIFA World Cup. It's also the colour of Medicare, that green and gold card that gives all Australians accessible, free health care.

Forty-two years ago, Medicare was introduced by Labor, and today Medicare is protected by Labor. If those opposite had their way, they'd be making more cuts to Medicare—a straight red card in this match. Meanwhile, this Labor government has made the biggest ever investment in bulk-billing because only Labor knows that every Aussie deserves access to affordable health care, and it's working.

The national bulk-billing rate is now sitting at over 80 per cent—right into the top corner, another goal scored. I'm proud to report that in my community there are now 24 Medicare bulk-billing practices, up from 13 before our bulk billing changes were introduced. That means, at 75 per cent of our clinics in Gorton, you can see a doctor for free.

That is massive. Just take a walk around Caroline Springs, Deer Park or Deneside and you'll see that we're full of young families building their futures. For families working hard and trying to make it work, the bills add up, but no Australian family should be putting off seeing a GP because of costs.

I know that, and this Labor government knows that. We're passing the ball of quality health care onto the next generation of Aussies. Up the Socceroos!