QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr BUTLER (Hindmarsh—Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for Health and Ageing and Deputy Leader of the House) (14:11): Thank you to the member for Whitlam, because I know how determined she is to strengthen Medicare—and her recognition of a decade of cuts and neglect and what it did to the Medicare system under those opposite, particularly the years-long freeze to the Medicare rebate that was cheered along at the time by the now leader of the opposition.
It meant that, when we came to government, bulk-billing was in freefall. It bottomed out at just 75 per cent before our first investment to turn bulk-billing around started to kick in. I'm pleased to say that that first investment—targeted at pensioners, kids and concession card holders—has had an effect.
That rate, for those Australians, is now over 93 per cent nationally. In the Illawarra, in the seat of Whitlam and the neighbouring seat of Cunningham, it's over 94 per cent. But we know that, after that first investment, because of the Medicare rebate freeze, bulk-billing continued to decline for other Australians.
That's why last year, for the first time ever, we extended bulk-billing support to every single Australian. After that record investment, I'm pleased to report that the latest data indicate that, up from 75 per cent, bulk-billing nationally now sits at 84 per cent. It is up in every state and territory, and I'm pleased to say that the biggest increases are being enjoyed by those Australians who don't have the benefit of a concession card.
The bulk-billing rate for those Australians in Whitlam is up 25 per cent. In the neighbouring electorate of Cunningham, it's up 20 per cent. And what that's doing is delivering literally millions and millions of additional free visits to the doctor every single year.
This is the centrepiece of our agenda to strengthen Medicare, because, for us, bulk-billing is the beating heart of that great system. It's what it means to Labor and the vast bulk of Australians. But it's not quite so clear what Medicare means to those opposite.
Now, the shadow minister for health and aged care was in a Senate inquiry a couple of weeks ago. She's been in the job for five years, mind you; the system has been in place for 42 years. She asked this question of my department: … I'd be keen to understand what Medicare means.
Does the department have a definition of what Medicare means? I'm pleased to say the department has provided the shadow minister for health with a definition of Medicare. I table it for those opposite, because, if the shadow minister doesn't know what it means, I suspect the rest of them don't either.
On this side, we know what Medicare means. It means the promise of universal health care. It means the promise that Australians anywhere can access the world's best health care, no matter where they live or their ability to pay.
The SPEAKER: The Leader of The Nationals and the member for Goldstein were yelling continuously during that answer. It's completely unacceptable. You're both warned, so no more interjections for the remainder of question time.
If you interject one more time, you won't be here. I hope that's crystal clear for everyone.