Anne Ruston

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the comments were unacceptable and that the Prime Minister had made this clear. She confirmed that Senator Dowling had taken immediate action regarding the employment. Regarding the ambassadorship, she corrected the record, noting Mr Muldoon had been an ambassador since 2014, not 2024, and that he would not serve in that role again following action by the assistant minister. She reiterated that the Prime Minister found the comments unacceptable.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated that the government's priority was directing tax dollars to aged care services, which required bringing older Australians' private health insurance rebate back to the same rate as everyone else's. She acknowledged the decision was difficult and unwelcome but necessary to fund aged care beds and packages. She criticized the Coalition for having no costed aged care policies. Regarding cochlear implants, she noted that implants were funded through public hospitals, and processor upgrades were available through the NDIS and Veterans' Affairs. She confirmed that over-65s would still receive up to 24 per cent subsidy on premiums, the same as the rest of the population, based on income rather than age.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated she would refer the member to the Prime Minister's answers in the House of Representatives. She defended the grant as the delivery of a transparent election commitment, noting that the Audit Office supports using properly designed grants programs for such purposes. She emphasized that the process followed Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles. In response to supplementary questions, she highlighted that the grant included environmental works and compared the process to other election commitments delivered by both parties, including a $1.8 million grant for a park in the Groom electorate.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister declined to engage with the premise of the question, stating she was proud to work for a leader who prioritises women's economic security and respects women. She highlighted that the government has achieved a 50 per cent female cabinet and caucus, and has invested in women's safety, housing, and health issues such as endometriosis and menopause. She asserted that the Prime Minister's comments had been misinterpreted and weaponised by opponents, and reiterated that the government's record on women's policy was unprecedented.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated that the government was investing over $3 billion in aged care beds and packages, funded by returning the PHI rebate for older Australians to the same level as others. She argued that the additional rebate was not the best use of taxpayer dollars and that the changes would restore fairness. She noted that people over 65 would still receive up to 24 per cent in government-subsidised discounts on premiums. She stated that the average impact on those 65 and older was less than a dollar a day, or approximately $250 a year, and that the changes were necessary to ensure the aged-care system's long-term viability.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister confirmed that the government was not introducing and did not intend to introduce taxes on inheritance or the family home. She stated that the opposition was contesting issues not in the budget because they could not contest the budget itself. In response to the question about credibility regarding negative gearing, the minister argued that the opposition had previously promised higher taxes and more debt, and criticized them for lacking a clear policy identity.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister explained that the Commonwealth was not party to the specific project contract in South Australia, which had received $68 million in 2017. She stated the government was working with the South Australian government to explore alternative technology suppliers. She noted patients could apply through the Medical Treatment Overseas Program and that Cancer Australia projected a need for one unit nationally.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister acknowledged the longstanding issues in the aged care system and stated the government was rebuilding it from the ground up. She confirmed that urgent cases were being prioritised and that wait times were expected to decrease. She attributed the crisis to neglect during the previous government's tenure and stated that the current administration was working swiftly to address the backlog through new legislation, resourcing, and workforce support.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that she opposed calls for intifada and believed all Australians were entitled to cultural safety. She noted that Dr Abdel-Fattah was taking legal action against the Premier and declined to comment further on the specific case. In supplementary answers, the minister reiterated her consistent opposition to prejudice and antisemitism but focused on the government's legislative agenda regarding gun reform and hate speech. She affirmed her support for the Adelaide Festival and referenced her agreement with the antisemitism envoy's views on how failures had been used to whip up hatred.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government was negotiating in good faith with states and had offered an additional $20 billion in hospital funding over five years, bringing total Commonwealth funding to $215 billion. She explained that the correspondence referred to these negotiations and the need for states to ensure their health systems were efficient. Regarding aged care, she acknowledged the pressure on hospitals due to insufficient aged-care services and attributed this partly to previous government cuts of $2.5 billion. She confirmed that the government aimed to finalise the National Cabinet agreement signed in December 2023, which linked increased Commonwealth funding to reasonable limits on annual cost growth.

Answer from Don Farrell

The minister stated he was unaware of the reports and denied being vindictive. He urged the coalition to demonstrate maturity and common sense in governing the chamber. He emphasized that the government answers questions honestly and directly, suggesting the opposition should act responsibly to regain public trust.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated the government was determined to defend universal health care. She highlighted investments to restore bulk-billing and mentioned steps taken in the ACT. She did not provide specific details on market intervention mechanisms.

Answer from Don Farrell (Minister representing the Prime Minister)

The transcript ends before the minister provided an answer.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister stated the government was pleased to work with the opposition on aged-care reforms. She confirmed the government is bringing forward the release of 83,000 additional home-care places, with 20,000 accessible during the eight weeks preceding the new Aged Care Act taking effect on 1 November. A further 63,000 places will be supported under the new Support at Home program by 30 June 2026. She described this as a responsible decision that maintains fiscal savings while delivering care faster.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister confirmed that as of 31 March, figures indicated 87,597 individuals awaiting an approved home-care package. She blamed the prior government's neglect for the backlogs and stated that current reforms, backed by the opposition, seek to resolve these problems and guarantee quality care. She observed that new and reallocated packages are issued weekly, assisting older Australians to leave the waiting list.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister affirmed the government's commitment to its Medicare policies, noting that 11 million pensioners and concession cardholders receive bulk billing in 90 per cent of cases. She announced an extension of bulk-billing incentives to all 26 million Australians, aiming for nine in 10 GP consultations to be covered by bulk billing by 2030. The minister highlighted an $8.5 billion investment in Medicare and the establishment of urgent care clinics. She criticised the opposition for previously freezing Medicare rebates and proposing a GP tax, arguing that bulk billing is the mechanism for delivering free access.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government had made the largest investment in Medicare since its inception, an $812 billion package aimed at increasing bulk-billing and doctor availability. She clarified that the policy goal was to achieve bulk-billing for nine out of 10 GP visits by 2030, a figure consistent with campaign announcements. The minister asserted that the Prime Minister's comments stood and criticized the opposition for focusing on the difference between nine out of 10 and 10 out of 10 visits rather than supporting increased bulk-billing incentives.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the government had substantially expanded bulk-billing incentives, resulting in more than nine in ten GP visits being free for eligible people. She clarified that government modelling indicated three-quarters of practices would be fully bulk-billing, achieving the nine-in-ten visit target. She noted that data on out-of-pocket costs is publicly available and that the government remains committed to strengthening Medicare through continued investment in bulk-billing incentives.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister stated that the Labor Party has a long record of opposing racism and does not believe people have a right to be bigots or offend others. She contrasted this with the opposition's previous attempts to remove protections from section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. In response to supplementary questions, she condemned racism in all forms and reaffirmed the party's opposition to white supremacism.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister expressed shock at the incident and noted universal condemnation of the antisemitism. She explained that adverse findings by NSW Health automatically flow through to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the national regulator. Regarding the supplementary questions, she stated that the AFP would assist NSW Police in their investigation and referenced Special Operation Avalite. She declined to commit to a National Cabinet meeting, instead inviting the opposition to stand united against antisemitism.

Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy

The minister stated that after nine years of neglect by the former government, the current administration has tripled investment in general practice. She reported that bulk-billing rose nationally by 1.9 percentage points over 14 months, reaching 77.5 per cent. She did not directly confirm or deny the 77.7 per cent figure for March, instead focusing on the financial viability of general practice prior to the election and the government's efforts to improve Medicare.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister rejected the premise, stating that inflation was high and living standards were declining when the government took office. She highlighted that inflation has since fallen, wages are growing, and unemployment is at a 50-year low. She criticised the opposition for opposing cost-of-living relief measures and for proposing $350 billion in cuts and a $600 billion nuclear program. She argued that the opposition's policies would lead to higher power prices and cuts to essential services.