Medicare

France argued that the decline in bulk-billing resulted from nine years of coalition policies, including a six-year freeze on GP rebates and the introduction of GP fees in 2015. France stated that the current government was reversing this trend by tripling incentives for vulnerable groups and expanding them to all Australians. France highlighted that over 1,000 practices had switched to full bulk-billing and noted the opening of urgent care clinics and mental health centres.

Violi criticised the government's timeline, noting that bulk-billing rates in Casey had dropped from 84.3 per cent in 2019 to 73.2 per cent in 2023. Violi argued that the government's target of 90 per cent bulk-billing by 2030 merely matched previous coalition levels. Violi claimed that 10,000 GP visits were cancelled or delayed daily due to affordability issues and cited the cut in Medicare-funded mental health consultations, which fell from 20 to 10, as a harmful policy.

Cook reported that bulk-billing had increased by 1.2 million visits in Queensland and that 11 fully bulk-billing clinics now operated in Bonner. Cook highlighted savings of over $12.8 million for families in the electorate through cheaper PBS medications. Cook announced the upcoming opening of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Karridale and detailed the $800 million women's health package aimed at reducing costs for contraceptives and menopausal therapies.

Kennedy stated that bulk-billing rates in Cook had fallen by 18.8 per cent since 2022, the largest drop in New South Wales. Kennedy argued that the all-or-nothing incentive structure was unworkable for clinics facing high rent and energy costs, leading to out-of-pocket fees exceeding $100. Kennedy claimed that 43,000 extra Australians were paying for GP visits daily and that patients were skipping life-saving appointments due to cost.

Holzberger argued that the bulk-billing collapse was a result of previous government neglect and that the current incentives were reversing the trend. Holzberger noted that bulk-billing rates in Queensland had risen from 73.6 per cent to 77 per cent. Holzberger clarified that the reduction in mental health sessions was a return to pre-pandemic levels after a temporary increase and highlighted new mental health clinics in Logan.

Phillips welcomed the expanded bulk-billing incentives, noting that over 20 GP practices in Gilmore had switched to full bulk-billing. Phillips highlighted the Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which extended its hours to midnight to reduce pressure on emergency departments. Phillips stated that the $8.5 billion investment would deliver 18 million additional bulk-billed visits annually and support thousands of new doctors.

Smith emphasised the equity of Medicare, citing personal experience with hospital care. Smith announced a new urgent care clinic for northern Cairns to improve access during flood events. Smith stated that 24 fully bulk-billed practices operated in Leichhardt and that bulk-billing rates in Queensland had increased by 3.4 per cent.

Aldred focused on regional health challenges, citing stretched resources at hospitals in the Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland. Aldred described an incident where an elderly patient had to be transported by family due to ambulance delays. Aldred argued that the Prime Minister's promise of needing only a Medicare card was false and that regional Australians were being treated as second-class citizens.

Freelander argued that healthcare was shifting from transactional visits to chronic illness management, requiring long-term policy. Freelander highlighted the new Wagga clinical school and other regional training initiatives to increase local doctor retention. Freelander acknowledged issues with specialist wait times but stated that the government was working to address them through increased funding and incentives.

Boyce supported the motion, noting that bulk-billing rates in Flynn had fallen from 81.5 per cent to 74.6 per cent. Boyce highlighted the Emerald Allied Health Facility and the Regional Medical Pathway as examples of successful local training partnerships. Boyce launched a website to collect data on out-of-pocket costs and called for the government to address the chronic shortage of health professionals.

Laxale attributed rising costs to the coalition's six-year rebate freeze and lack of indexation. Laxale stated that the government had invested $8.5 billion to reverse these cuts, with 1,000 practices indicating they would become fully bulk-billing. Laxale noted that four clinics in Bennelong had shifted to full bulk-billing since the November reforms and highlighted the financial benefits for regional practices.

Willcox stated that there were no fully bulk-billed GP clinics in Mackay and that out-of-pocket costs were creating barriers to care. Willcox argued that rising power bills and insurance costs made bulk-billing unsustainable for many practices. Willcox warned that delayed care due to cost could lead to severe health outcomes, including late-stage cancer diagnoses.

Small argued that the bulk-billing incentives promoted volume over value, potentially undermining care quality in regional areas. Small claimed that the incentives did not adequately fund longer consultations for complex cases, forcing clinics to choose between financial viability and comprehensive care. Small raised concerns about administrative burdens from MyMedicare registration and the risk of private equity consolidation in the health sector.

Campbell argued that the opposition's past policies, including rebate freezes and proposed copayments, were responsible for the current state of Medicare. Campbell highlighted the $8.5 billion investment and the expansion of bulk-billing incentives to all Australians. Campbell noted the operation of 90 urgent care clinics and emphasised that the government was focused on easing cost-of-living pressures rather than political games.