REBECCA WHITE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING: Well, I'm really excited to be here at Bedford Street Practice in Brighton, which has become one of the newest bulk billing practices in Tasmania. This is because of Labor's commitment to strengthen Medicare. And today marks one year since the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Launceston Labor's policy to strengthen Medicare with an over $8 billion investment. And one year on from that, we see in Tasmania a significant increase in the number of bulk billing GPs right around the state. Where we started with just 25 bulk billing GPs, we now have 59 operating in Tasmania, which means hundreds of more patients able to go and see their GP for free. And that's what this is about. It's about providing access to affordable, great healthcare close to people's homes.
We've also been able to roll out our investment in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, standing up eight across the state with Burnie opening just a couple of weeks ago and Kingston opening today. This means that across the state, we now have eight Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and as of today, they've seen about 150,000 patients since the first one opened. So, alongside our investment in Medicare to strengthen bulk billing rates we've also rolled out Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, which has meant that Tasmanians have been able to see a GP for free in many places now right across Tasmania.
This is a milestone moment because this is one of the fundamental things we hear people share with us when they're talking about some of their cost of living pressures, identifying that healthcare and access to an affordable GP is a real barrier. Being able to see more GP practices just like this one here in Bedford Street in Brighton open up to become fully bulk billing is really exciting for them and their doctors and their staff, but also for the patients who rely on a service like this. And many of these doctors have got their books open just like this one here at Bedford Street, meaning that patients can come here and access a doctor and see them for free.
Alongside our investment in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and more bulk billing practices, we've been investing in the mental health of Tasmanians, with Mental Health Hubs for children opening up in East Tamar, Burnie, and in Jordan River Centre at Tagari Lia in Bridgewater, too. These provide free services for families with children up to 12 years of age to go and access this support which, for many, has been out of reach.
I'm really proud of our investment in health, not just here in Tasmania, but right across the country. Our ability to strengthen Medicare is really built on the principle of our party's belief in its value and importance for all Australians to have access to affordable healthcare.
I will ask Dr Harpreet Kaur, who's the practice owner here, to share some thoughts on why they've stepped forward to become a bulk billing practice, but also how that's helping patients here in this community.
JOURNALIST: How important was it for you to be able to, I guess, become a bulk billing practice?
HARPREET KAUR, BEDFORD STREET MEDICAL CENTRE: I think when we were looking at patients who were not able to get proper healthcare, so I always had an idea about bulk billing. Initially, we were just doing bulk billing for people who have got pension card, kids under than 16. But with the Government's initiative, now we have been able to bulk bill everyone who has a Medicare card. So, it's been, I think, a great thing to have, and people are getting more and better care. They can have regular follow-ups, and they don't need to think twice before coming to us.
JOURNALIST: Was it nice for your staff to see that change when you got to just say to everyone, it’s fixed now, don't worry about paying?
KAUR: So, I think we're getting good feedback, and the relationship between the patient and the doctor is also better. It's more about care, not just about money.
JOURNALIST: And is this something you could have done before the Federal Government initiative?
KAUR: No, I don't think so. It wouldn't have been possible. And especially everyone coming to the agreement with the doctors to bulk bill, so it was a bit hard before. So now, with the incentives, this is possible. So, we can convince the other doctors to bulk bill as well.
JOURNALIST: What have you heard from patients? Have they- has anyone said anything?
KAUR: I think they are very excited to come here, especially families, elderly people.
WHITE: I've heard patients come in here and didn't know you’re bulk billing. It's a surprise.
KAUR: Because we are one of two practices in Brighton and the other is private billing, people mostly assume we are that practice.
JOURNALIST: Okay. Are you noticing- I guess is it busier? Are people maybe coming to you over others because you're bulk billing?
KAUR: Yes, we are getting very busy.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned, I think it was, like, the number of bulk billed clinics in Tasmania have more than doubled since you increased the incentive. I mean, do you know which areas they are in around Tasmania?
WHITE: Yeah, so we can see from the data on Healthdirect, which is available for anyone to look at to find a bulk billing GP, that they are spread right around the state. In my electorate of Lyons, we’ve moved from having just six bulk billing GP practices to now having 17, and that includes right at the far east Tasmania, the east coast, the north west, right down to south. So, I’m really excited to see that regional practices in particular are taking this up because we know that the further outside a city you live, the harder it can be to access healthcare at times. The opportunity now for people to see a fully bulk billing GP changes that, and that’s really what this is about.
JOURNALIST: Speaking to this, Hobart, I think that’s one of the outliers that I think Mark Butler mentioned on AM this morning. It’s one that’s not taking up. Do you know why that is?
WHITE: We do know that in Hobart, the bulk billing rate is not at the rate we like. We want to see more GPs move to fully bulk billing right across the state, particularly in some of our high population areas like Hobart. The Health Minister has noted that. Let’s allow a little bit more time, because these changes only came into effect on 1 November. We’ve seen incredible take-up in Tasmania since then. However, it might take some time for those larger practices to be able to crunch the numbers to make sure it’s worthwhile for them to move to fully bulk billing. And if that hasn’t occurred within 12 months’ time, then I think we’ll be looking at what else we need to do.
JOURNALIST: Do we know - I guess, would there be any reason that Hobart would be an outlier, it would be more expensive?
WHITE: I’m sure there may be a number of reasons that practices would share for why they haven’t moved to full bulk billing, particularly in some of the city centres where they can charge a gap fee for patients presenting for healthcare and patients are assumed to be able to afford that. Where you’ve already got patients presenting with a pension care card, they in most cases will be bulk billed because of the incentive the Federal Government’s been offering for about four years now. It’s for those working-age patients, people who are outside of the pension care system who are currently not being bulk billed in the cities who we’re still trying to understand why that’s the case with some of these practices.
JOURNALIST: Yeah, I do. Just on your clinics that offer full bulk billing, is that just for Medicare-eligible appointments? Because I know some offer reserved bulk billing because they have children or concession card holders.
WHITE: So, when the Albanese Labor Government was elected in 2022, we increased the incentive for bulk billing pensioners and children, which saw a tripling of the bulk billing incentive payment. And that did mean that a lot of those practices moved to fully bulk billing for those patients.
But what we’ve been able to do from 1 November is increase the bulk billing incentive for all patients, regardless of whether they have a pension care card or whether they’re under the age of 16, and so we are now seeing a lot more doctors move to bulk bill those patients. And to become a fully bulk billing practice, like here at Bedford Street in Brighton, requires the agreement of all of the doctors on site to access the bulk billing incentive program, which is provided by the Federal Government to reward with a 12.5 per cent extra payment to the practices that move to fully bulk billing. So, we hope that acts as an incentive to support them to all agree in the practice to move to fully bulk billing so that no matter who walks through the door, so long as you do have a Medicare card, you can access a GP for free.
JOURNALIST: And what would your response be to GPs who remain nervous about switching back to a system that relies on government funding?
WHITE: So, the Medicare system’s always been underpinned by government funding ever since it was created by the Labor Party. So, there are a number of resources available online for GPs to test whether or not moving to fully bulk billing is going to work for their practice, as well as officials within the department they can speak with about that. Fundamentally, Australia’s healthcare system is underpinned by public funding. It is what makes it a universal healthcare system, and including access through Medicare programs such as GP services. So that will always be the way, particularly under a Labor government, because we believe that Medicare is a key part of our ability to deliver universal healthcare, no matter where you live or no matter what your income.
JOURNALIST: The Four Corners story that’s airing tonight. Obviously, it’s already online. It’s proving shocking. How did you feel, as the Assistant Minister for Women and for Health, reading it?
WHITE: I felt heartbroken for the women who’ve shared their stories, particularly women who had multiple surgeries or had surgeries where it might’ve impacted on their fertility and their ability to become a mother in the future. It’s just senseless – to read stories like this or hear stories like this and think about how that could happen in a medical system like we have in Australia where you would hope there are protections in place for consumers who are relying on these services and trusting the advice of medical practitioners.
JOURNALIST: So, obviously, there have been concerns about the spread of florfenicol in the water. It’s- the original sort of advice would be about 3 kilometres out. We’ve seen it sort of found in seafood more than 10.6 kilometres out. Are you concerned that we are, I guess, putting the interest of the salmon industry over our wild fisheries and risking trade at moment?
WHITE: So, I note that there is until 2 March for the information to be shared with the regulator about whether or not they should continue this practice. And I think that’s appropriate that there be oversight, but also transparency about use within the landscape, because it isn’t just confined to the pens. As we’ve seen now, it is impacting on the broader environmental landscape. I respect that there are concerns from the Tasmanian community about this. I’ve had them raised with me directly. It is incumbent upon the state government to make sure that they are properly regulating the salmon industry. It operates with Tasmanian waters, and they are the responsible jurisdiction to ensure that they are appropriately governing that.
What’s happening at a federal level now is that the federal regulator is seeking information, because what we don’t want to see is an impact on trade relationships and the ability for other really important agriculture sectors in Tasmania to have access to those markets.
JOURNALIST: Tassal went and started new treatment on five of its leases- like, all the areas that are approved at the moment, yesterday. I mean, do you think that’s a good look considering it’s all been called into question?
WHITE: I will take advice from the scientists, and that’s why they are the ones who are calling for further information from the industry so they can properly understand what the impact might be on the broader environment, wild caught fishery and, of course, the impact that may have on our trade relationships overseas. It’s also important for the state government to be really transparent here and to make sure that they’re properly working with industry to ensure the Tasmanian public’s interest is protected here. I support the salmon industry operating in a sustainable way. The Labor Party does, but we also need to make sure its not impinging on the rights of other people in our community or the interests of other sectors that are exporting products to key trade markets.