HOST, SARAH ABO: Millions more Aussies are gaining access to bulk billed GP appointments, according to new figures from Medicare. The data suggesting an additional 5.4 million patients have had their services covered since the Albanese Government made further health investments last year. For more, we are joined now by Health Minister Mark Butler, live in Canberra. Mark, good morning to you. Now before we get to that, because I do want to talk about it, first of all, I want to start with that campaign style rally in Adelaide this weekend in your hometown and a pledge that if elected, Labor will make drastic changes to students HECS Debt. Are you wandering into Greens policy again?
MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE, MARK BUTLER: No, this is a big investment into the future of young Australians, Sarah. We know young Australians are doing it really tough financially, particularly if they're saddled with student debts, which 3 million of them are. We've got legislation before the Parliament to implement the commitment we made this year to provide debt relief to young Australians. We know that will make a meaningful difference to them, but we know there's more we can do. And at the rally yesterday as well, Sarah, the Prime Minister announced we would lock in Fee-Free TAFE in priority areas. That's going to mean more tradies building houses, more educators in our childcare centres, and more carers in aged care as well.
ABO: The architect of HECS says this is really just politicising the issue. I mean, are you not concerned about this debt being paid off by taxpayers who actually choose not to study at universities, as some economists have described this a subsidy for those who are tertiary educated, paid for by those who are not. It does sound a little bit unfair?
BUTLER: Whether it's university or TAFE, young Australians investing in their future is not just a personal decision – it's important for the nation. We know that young Australians’ student debt is higher than it's ever been. And we also know that getting into housing and a whole range of other financial decisions for young Australians, is really tough. This is important financial relief for the future of our country. It will lock out about $20 billion, in total, of student debt, saving young Australians hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year.
ABO: It's the poor paying for the wealthy, isn't it?
BUTLER: No, it's investing in the future of young Australians. We know that the overwhelming bulk of jobs in the future will require either university or TAFE qualifications. We know that student debt is higher than it's ever been. We know housing costs are higher than it's ever been. Providing financial relief to 3 million young Australians is not just a really important thing to do at a time of real financial pressure, it's an investment in the future of our country.
ABO: All right, let's go to those bulk billing figures now. An average of 103,000 additional bulk billing visits every week. It still is sometimes hard to find a GP, though Mark that does bulk bill.
BUTLER: When we came to government bulk billing was in freefall and doctors were hard to come by and because of our investments, we're starting to see that turn around, Sarah. We've got more doctors, we've got more bulk billing, we're opening more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and medicines are cheaper as well. It's making a really meaningful difference, but we know that it's hard to turn that stuff around quickly. We know there's more that we need to do. I'm really pleased out of these statistics as well, Sarah, that the number of young doctors choosing general practice as their career is up by 25 per cent over two years. That's a really important decision by young doctors to go into this critically important part of the health sector. But more bulk billing visits – as you say, more than 5 million additional free visits to the doctor – is starting to turn around a position that we inherited that was really parlous.
ABO: All right. It's a welcome start, Mark and hopefully more of it to come. Thanks for joining us this morning.
BUTLER: Thanks, Sarah.
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