CAROLINE PERRYMAN, HOST: Now, the Central Coast's low bulk billing rate has been recognised in the Federal Budget. As we heard earlier, $25 million has been allocated for six fully bulk-billed clinics right across the Central Coast and Hunter, and that's to help boost access to affordable healthcare. With two earmarked for the Central. here's what Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid, told us on the show earlier.
[Excerpt]
GORDON REID, MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON: We have seen an increase in bulk billing in the electorate of Robertson, so in the southern end of the Central Coast. We now have 16 bulk billing practices since we've come to government. But obviously, I want to see the expansion of bulk billing services increase right across our regions.
[End of excerpt]
PERRYMAN: So what about the northern region of the Central Coast? Emma McBride is the Federal Member for Dobell and is on the line this morning. Thanks for your time, Emma.
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Good to be with you, Caroline.
PERRYMAN: So speaking of those bulk billed clinics, two for the Central Coast, Dr Gordon Reid was telling us. I'm gathering one for each electorate you're hoping for?
MCBRIDE: Well, Caroline, this will go through a tender process through the Primary Health Network, which covers the whole of the region. So an announcement of six fully bulk billed practices because on the Central Coast, we haven't seen the increase in bulk billing practices that we would like to see and the community deserves. Since we've introduced the tripling of the bulk billing incentive, we've seen an additional three bulk billing practices in Dobell. So sitting now at eight. It's something that as a local pharmacist and as a local MP, I'm really keen to see improve so that more local people can get the health they need affordably, and also to reduce pressure on our emergency departments in our public hospitals.
PERRYMAN: Would it also be a good idea to help the existing GP clinics or GP practices also be able to provide more bulk billing by more incentives for them as well?
MCBRIDE: Yes, we've done that. And as you know, before the 2022 election, we committed to make the Central Coast a distribution priority area which meant it made it a priority area for GPs, making it easier for GPs to be able to practice on the Central Coast, particularly overseas-trained doctors. We've also tripled the bulk billing incentive and on top of that introduced a bulk billing practice incentive. GPs now have the tripling of the incentive to bulk bill a patient plus a 12.5 per cent loading if that practice bulk bills every eligible patient, and that incentive is split between the practice and the GP themselves. A more than $8 billion investment across the country in Strengthening Medicare and bulk billing. And we're particularly keen to see that extended and expanded on the Central Coast.
PERRYMAN: ABC Central Coast – with us is Emma McBride, the Federal Member for Dobell. We're talking about last night's Federal Budget. What else is in this budget specifically for the Dobell electorate?
MCBRIDE: Well, I'm really keen as a pharmacist and an Assistant Health Minister to see the investment that in the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme continue, including new and amended listings on the PBS. When I visit pharmacies on the Central Coast and around the country, I hear the real difference that it's making. Our cut of the cost of general PBS prescriptions to $25, which was an election commitment that came into effect on1 January, and also the freezing of concession prescriptions at $7.70 to the end of the decade. And I know that already there's been more than three million cheaper scripts in Dobell under the cheaper medicines policy and more than 126 million across the country. So seeing people who were avoiding or delaying care, which had an impact on their health and their wellbeing, being able to access much more affordable medicines has made a really big difference in Dobell across the Central Coast and around the country.
PERRYMAN: Of course, as a pharmacist, that's close to your heart, isn't it? On the ABC Central Coast, Emma McBride, the member for Dobell, is with us. Any other specifics, though, just for our region rather than a national issue that does impact us? Anything particular that you could point out that has been unveiled overnight?
MCBRIDE: I think what a big difference will make for many local people will be the changes that we're making in housing. I've heard from so many young people that have just found it too hard to be able get a foothold in housing. And the changes that we've made both to negative gearing and capital gains tax, I know, will be a relief for many Australians, particularly on the Central Coast, where it's been really hard for younger people to be able to get a foothold in the housing market.
PERRYMAN: Not everyone agrees with that. Some say it'll put pressure on investors and they won't invest in housing and then that'll lead to less housing. So not everyone agrees that this is going to work. What would you say to people who say that to you, that this isn't the answer?
MCBRIDE: What I would say is that, and from the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and from the forecasting through Treasury is that what it will do is increase supply. And we know that the biggest constraint on housing or the biggest increase in pressure on price has been about supply. It's estimated that this will help to get more than 75,000 Australians into the housing market. And I'm confident from the modelling that we've seen and the forecasts that have been made that this will make a really big difference, particularly to so many Coasties who have just been forced out of the housing market. So really pleased to see this in the budget and to know the outcome that will mean for local people and families.
PERRYMAN: Earlier, heard from Chels Hood Withey from House You, it's a housing advocacy group based on the Northern Rivers. She's calling for public housing. Is that a possibility? We used to have public housing where the government paid for the housing and eventually I think you could buy the house that you were- you got from the government. Is that a possibility, or has our population just grown too much?
MCBRIDE: The Commonwealth is investing in social and affordable housing, including through the Housing Australia Future Fund. And you know, we've got social housing providers on the Central Coast, including Pacific Link, who are working to boost the supply of social and affordable housing. So, yes, that is another measure as part of what the government is doing. As the Treasurer said, we are looking at this problem from every angle and looking at every responsible way that we can improve the supply of housing to make sure that Australians have a secure roof over their head and a strong future.
PERRYMAN: It is a big problem. I mean, even the new units going up, a lot around Gosford, as you'd know, the government says there's a social housing aspect to them. But when you look at the prices, they are really unaffordable for most people, as most places are now on the Central Coast. This is a massive issue. Some would say it's great that the government's tackling it to a point. Others say it's not going far enough. It's hard to get the balance right, I suppose.
MCBRIDE: Well, we know since the 1990s that incomes have doubled but housing prices have quadrupled, which has just made housing unaffordable for many Australians and many people that I hear from on the Central Coast, which is what's really driving the changes that we've made in the budget to make it more affordable, particularly for working people. We want nurses to be able to live near where they work. We want police officers to be able to do the same. So these changes are really designed to make sure that working people and families can live affordably on the Central Coast and including essential workers. So this is a big investment designed to be able to boost housing affordability and boost supply.
PERRYMAN: Before I let you go, Emma McBride, the Federal Member for Dobell. Promises from the last Federal Budget – over 4.7 million for Tuggerah Lake cycleway. Where’s that at at the moment?
MCBRIDE: I’m really pleased to be able to update your listeners that work is progressing very well. And we know on the west side of the lake, the difference that this shared pathway is making. The next stage will be progressing soon and it's out to tender. And I know from locals and visitors the difference that this has really made and also to help fill that missing link in the shared pathway around the whole of the lake. So very pleased to provide an update and working closely with Central Coast Council on delivering that commitment for locals.
PERRYMAN: And I also noticed there was almost a quarter of a million dollars for local playground and tennis courts at Lake Munmorah and San Remo. Do you know where they're at?
MCBRIDE: I mean, probably best to ask Minister Pat Conroy, because those ones sit just outside of my electorate in his. But I was able to secure funding, including for the Berkeley Vale Panthers, for a women's change shed. I'm pleased to know that is progressing as well. And really good to see the investment in our local community, particularly in community and sporting facilities for local people and families.
PERRYMAN: All right. Thanks so much for your time.
MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.
PERRYMAN: There's Emma McBride, the Federal Member for Dobell.