JAYNIE SEAL, HOST: The latest report from the National Rural Health Alliance has revealed the health expenditure gap between rural and urban Australians has widened by a further $880 million. Well, for more, joining us live is Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride. Minister, thank you so much for joining us. We spoke earlier today to the CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance, Susi Tegen. She said she hasn't heard from the Albanese Government about these findings. And we're talking about 7.4 million Australians. That's a huge expenditure gap between rural Australia and city Australians. What can you tell us?
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Jaynie, I represent a regional electorate, and I worked in a regional hospital for nearly 10 years. The health and wellbeing of Australians living outside of our capital cities is paramount of importance to us. I was just at the Australian Regional Medical Conference in Adelaide last week, and what we're really pleased to see is given the big investment we've made in Medicare and particularly in general practice and the new recognition of rural generalists, this big increase in general practitioners, particularly in more regional and remote Australia. The tripling of the bulk billing incentive is graded for rurality, so the more rural you are, the greater that incentive is. We've made some really big investments in both services through Medicare and in our health workforce pipeline. But of course, Jaynie, there is always more to do, and I know that as a clinician myself, given the hospital that I worked in and the growing demands in those regions.
SEAL: I guess many people unfortunately are not trusting your government at the moment. If we just look at one thing, in terms of interest rate rises, we've seen 16 since your government started. Obviously, there's a cost of living crisis worldwide and fuel crises as well, a lot of things that we can't control. But certainty and trust is something that is really vital to so many people, as we know. So how can we guarantee what your government is saying will actually happen?
MCBRIDE: I think, Jaynie, they can see that we've demonstrated it through our actions. I mean, through the renegotiation for National Health and Hospital Reform Agreement, we've invested another $25 billion for the state and territory governments to invest in their health services, including their regional and more remote health services. I mentioned the tripling of the bulk billing incentive, which is graded for rurality. And we've also, in terms of mental health, we've invested another $267.3 million to expand the footprint of Medicare Mental Health Centres, most of which will be in the regions. On your program, I announced new headspace outreach program, another 20. So, I understand that people are doing it really tough, and with my responsibilities, I'm trying to do everything I can to make sure that services are available close to home and for free under Medicare.
SEAL: If we look at this report though, according to these stats, 7.4 million Australians receive approximately $1218 less in healthcare funding each year than people in the city. That's a huge amount of people and a big number.
MCBRIDE: Jaynie, in Australia today, and you would know this, about 73 per cent of our population lives on the coastline. But in terms of my focus, it's all those Australians living outside our metro cities, and as I've mentioned, this big increase in funding through Medicare, a big increase in funding through the National Hospital and Health Reform Agreement, and a continuing roll out and expansion of services into the most regional and remote parts of Australia. I mean, I've visited the headspace in Mutitjulu on the eastern side of Uluru. We'll be opening one in Norfolk Island. We're trying to make sure that wherever someone lives, there are services available to them close to home and free under Medicare.
SEAL: I guess my understanding is city, regions, I mean it seems pretty simple in terms of what this report is, that there's a huge gap in expenditure for simply living in a different area. Is that going to change? Because unfortunately, again, each year, we're seeing a rise. So it's gone up $138 from last year per person.
MCBRIDE: Jaynie, I work very closely with Susi Tegen, the CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance. I attended their event in Parliament House just recently, and I just saw Susi at a rural medicine's conference in Adelaide last week. So this is a top priority for me with my responsibilities. It's something that we will continue to invest in, and I want to reassure your listeners today or your audience today that it is my top priority to make sure that we do always do more and to make sure that wherever you live, you've got the support and care you need closer to home and free under Medicare.
SEAL: And before we let you go, we've got parliament obviously sitting next week. The Digital Duty of Care Bill is going to be front and centre. It's controversial but- we've only got about 30 seconds. What will we need to be looking at closely here?
MCBRIDE: Jaynie, this is about how platforms operate, not about what people post. With my responsibility for mental health and suicide prevention, I think we should take every step we can to mitigate risk and protect the most vulnerable online, especially our children.
SEAL: All right. Assistant Minister Regional- for Regional and Rural Health, Emma McBride, thank you so much. Always great to see you.
MCBRIDE: Good to see you, Jaynie.