On February 23, Dutton announced a $9 billion investment in Medicare, matching the $8.5 billion plan proposed by workers.
The Medicare debate once again reached a central stage for Australia’s federal elections, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissing opposition leader Peter Dutton’s latest pledge as merely a political manipulation.
“What we saw from the opposition yesterday was pure politics. That was what they did before 2013, and the 2014 budget document was very clear about a hospital’s roughly $50 billion cut. “We’re doing this,” Albanese said on February 24th.
He further criticised the Union’s past approach to Healthcare, recalling their attempts to introduce co-payments for GPs, increase pharmaceutical costs and charge fees for emergency department visits.
Albanese noted that Dutton was voted for the worst health minister in history by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) during his tenure as health minister.
“What about Peter Dutton is that you’re thinking of bubbles,” Albanese added.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will speak to the media at a doorstop event in the Gympie region of Australia’s Central Queensland on January 6, 2025. AAP Image/Russell Freeman
The Union aims to reduce bulk claims
In response, the Union argued that under labor, mass claims have plummeted, making medical appointments more difficult and expensive for Australians.
They said Australians are currently paying 45% more for their GP visits, with the lump sum claim rate falling from 88% under the coalition to 77% under the labor market.
“This had a serious impact on healthcare access, when Australians could at least afford it,” Dutton said.
He added that in past fiscal years there was less consultations of 40 million people in past fiscal years, and mass-received GP visits have dropped significantly.
He further argued that the decline forced 1.5 million Australians to avoid seeing doctors in 2023-24 and avoid increasing pressure on hospitals.
Dutton matches the worker’s Medicare pledge
To address the healthcare crisis, the coalition has pledged to coincide with workers’ $8.5 billion Medicare investments.
The commitment is based on previously announced $500 million in funding growth, claiming that the Albanese government has significantly reduced its rates for Medicare-supported mental health services.
“The coalition has planned $400 million, nurtured a strong pipeline of homemade GPS, and provided financial incentives and training support to young doctors,” Dutton said in a statement on February 23rd. .
He also highlighted records in the government, including a 16% increase in hospital funding and the establishment of a $22 billion medical research future fund designed to support medical breakthroughs and innovation. .
When asked whether this commitment is at odds with his stance on financial responsibility, Dutton said: The Labour Party hasn’t done that, so I think it’s a fair question for the Prime Minister about where the money comes from. ”
Dutton said these investments require strong economic management and he insisted that only the Union could provide sustainable healthcare funding.
Labor defends Medicare records
Health Minister Mark Butler rejected the coalition’s criticism, stating that the government’s health policy is well planned and has resulted.
According to Butler, Medicare has seen significant improvements, particularly in the billing of most pensioners and concession cardholders.
“We’ve seen a big rebound in the bills of most pensioners, concession cardholders, and I’m sure we’ll see that in Middle Australia,” Butler said.
He added that nearly 5,000 medical practices are expected to move to full bulk billing and significantly improve access to affordable healthcare.
“We modeled this very carefully. I’m sure that almost 5,000 practices would be better if we moved to bulk billing. So, not 100 (percent), but 90 percent. It’s close to a 100% bulk bill.”
Butler also defended the rise in Labour’s Medicare rebates, claiming that the Albanese government has offered three largest annual hikes to the rebates over the past 30 years.
“Thirty years after Paul Keating became prime minister, except for the incentive for bulk claims, we have increased the Medicare income of doctors over nine years, said.
With both major political parties making Medicare a key battlefield, it remains to be seen whether their competing health policy messaging will be a determinant of elections.
