Answers to Questions

Ghosh defended the government's commitment to Medicare, stating that the policy aimed to ensure nine out of ten GP visits were bulk-billed by 2030 through a tripling of bulk-billing incentives. Ghosh cited a national increase in bulk-billing rates of 3.2 percentage points since November 2023, with significant rises in states such as Tasmania and South Australia. Ghosh argued that previous Coalition figures were artificially inflated by including COVID-related tests and vaccines, and highlighted the establishment of 87 Medicare urgent care clinics as part of an $8.5 billion investment.

Colbeck reiterated that the Prime Minister's election promise regarding Medicare cards was unqualified and therefore implied 100 per cent bulk-billing, which the government was failing to deliver. Colbeck cited Department of Health statistics showing bulk-billing rates fell from 88 per cent under the Coalition to 77 per cent under Labor. Colbeck also criticised the government's transparency, noting that fewer than one in three motions for document production were complied with, and argued that power bills had increased by over $1,000 despite promises of a $275 reduction.

Dowling argued that the Coalition was confused about the compatibility of 76 per cent of clinics bulk-billing with the target of nine in ten patients being bulk-billed by 2030. Dowling highlighted four pillars of the health policy: increased bulk-billing incentives, training more doctors and nurses, establishing urgent care clinics, and reducing medicine prices. Dowling also addressed a separate issue regarding US tariffs, stating that the Minister for Trade and Tourism had corrected a mistake but that the Coalition was unfairly conflating trade policy with biosecurity reviews on beef imports.

Smith criticised the government's foreign policy, particularly regarding trade relations with the United States, noting that the Minister for Trade and Tourism had conceded Australia would face at least 10 per cent tariffs. Smith listed six failures in foreign relations, including the absence of an in-person encounter with the US President for more than 260 days and no exemptions from harmful tariffs. Smith argued that the government was unprepared for the Trump administration's global agenda and had weakened the AUKUS relationship, thereby risking Australia's economic prosperity and national security.