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SenateTuesday 23 June 2026

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (15:01): Thanks to our Labor government's historic investment in Medicare, the number of bulk-billing practices in this country gets bigger every week. We know that, in the first quarter of this year, the bulk-billing rate had risen to 81.9 per cent. That is a 4.6 percentage point increase on the same period from last year.

Bulk-billing rates are up in every state and territory. What does that mean? It means that the numbers do not lie.

Our historic $8½ billion investment in bulk-billing has delivered a historic result. It means more and more people are able to go and see a doctor with just their Medicare card—not a credit card but their Medicare card. Again, our sole focus is on delivering for the Australian people.

Meanwhile, the three right-wing parties are focused on themselves and their own base interests. They are focused on division; we're focused on delivery. The PRESIDENT: Senator Ananda-Rajah, second supplementary?

SourceSenate, Tuesday 23 June 2026 — official recordTA-260623-senate-0d6febb35e23:s161