Trish Cook
Bullwinkel · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Primary care, urgent care and emergency care—patients with non-life threatening urgent conditions can be treated quickly and efficiently in the community close to where they live. This is what strong primary care and urgent care systems look like. They are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of patients.”
“There are now over 3,800 Medicare bulk-billing practices nationwide, and more than 1,400 of these were previously mixed-billing clinics—so 1,400 have converted to bulk-billing all patients all of the time. Importantly, about 97 per cent of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing practice.”
“They're also relieving pressure on GP practices themselves. As a GP nurse, I know that when something urgent walks through the door, of course the scheduled patients, both on my lists and the doctor's lists, will need to wait so that the urgent case is attended to.”
“Since Labor strengthened Medicare bulk-billing and introduced additional incentives for GPs, we have seen five more GP practices in my electorate of Bullwinkel take up bulk-billing. That is five more practices, and all the doctors within those practices, making the choice to put patients first and ensure care is accessible to everyone.”
“This bill has established a clear and enduring legislative framework for Commonwealth primary care incentive payment programs, including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program. These programs are a vital part of how we support access, affordability and quality in our health system.”
“Today I rise in strong support of the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026. As federal member for Bullwinkel and as somebody that worked on the frontline as a nurse for decades, I know firsthand just how important a strong, accessible primary care system is to the health and wellbeing of our communi…”
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“It gives certainty to providers, strengthens accountability and ensures these programs can continue to evolve to meet the needs of Australians. This bill is about fairness. It's about ensuring that whether you live in Gosnells, Toodyay, Beverley, Chidlow or Gidgegannup, you can access affordable, high-quality care. It's about backing local practices and healthcare workers, and it's about building a stronger Medicare for the future. As someone who has worked extensively in our health system, I am proud to support this bill. As the member for Bullwinkel, I'm proud to stand up for my communities, the patients, the providers and the families who rely on Medicare every day. I commend this bill to the House.”
“They're also relieving pressure on GP practices themselves. As a GP nurse, I know that when something urgent walks through the door, of course the scheduled patients, both on my lists and the doctor's lists, will need to wait so that the urgent case is attended to. But having the urgent cases taken out to the Medicare urgent care clinics means that GPs can get on with doing primary care where it's needed. Primary care is the front door of our health care system. It is where early intervention happens, where preventative health takes place and where relationships are built. It's where we can prevent more serious injuries and health issues further down the track. This bill strengthens our foundations by providing a clear legislative basis for primary care incentive programs.”
“Primary care, urgent care and emergency care—patients with non-life threatening urgent conditions can be treated quickly and efficiently in the community close to where they live. This is what strong primary care and urgent care systems look like. They are accessible, responsive and centred on the needs of patients. They are supported by the very incentive frameworks that this bill puts on a stronger legislative footing. The impact of our reforms right across Australia from 1 November when we introduced the expanded general practice bulk-billing incentive and the additional 12.5 per cent for practices that bulk-bill all patients, all the time has been remarkable. This is structural change. In this budget, we have embedded those Medicare urgent care clinics so they'll be with us for the future.”
“The feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to all those people who have written in to say thank you. People value the fact that it is fully bulk-billed, open extended hours and does not require an appointment or a referral. It means families can get urgent care when they need it, close to home and without the additional stress of payment. We are seeing similar benefits from other Medicare urgent care clinics which are located just outside of Bullwinkel in Gosnells and North Midland but service the people of Bullwinkel. Together, these clinics are relieving pressure on hospital emergency departments and ensuring that emergency departments can focus on those who truly need emergency care.”
“There are now over 3,800 Medicare bulk-billing practices nationwide, and more than 1,400 of these were previously mixed-billing clinics—so 1,400 have converted to bulk-billing all patients all of the time. Importantly, about 97 per cent of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billing practice. In electorates like Bullwinkel that increased access is crucially important. Speaking of Bullwinkel, I was incredibly proud to open the Mundaring Urgent Care Clinic in my electorate just three months ago. In that short space of time since, this clinic has already seen more than 2,000 patients. That is 2,000 people who have been able to access urgent care quickly without needing to go down the hill on the busy Great Eastern Highway to the emergency hospital department.”
“And bulk-billing has increased in every state and territory: New South Wales now sits at 85.6 per cent; Victoria, 83.7 per cent; Queensland, 79.5 per cent; South Australia, 80.4 per cent; Tasmania, 78 per cent; the Northern Territory, 89.8 per cent; the ACT, 54.1 per cent; and Western Australia, 74 per cent. These are not just numbers. They represent real Australians who can now access care more readily. They represent parents who don't have to choose between paying for a doctor's visit or paying the bills. They represent older Australians who can manage chronic conditions without the financial strain. And they represent communities that are healthier because care is more accessible.”
“On 1 November, we expanded the general practice bulk-billing incentive to all Australians, and introduced an additional 12.5 per cent incentive payment for general practices that bulk-bill all of the patients all of the time. This was a significant and practical reform, one that gives practices the support that they need to maintain and expand bulk-billing, and we are seeing the results. The latest data in the national GP bulk-billing rate has risen to 81.9 per cent, an increase of 4.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year.”
“These practices are not just healthcare providers; they're pillars of our community. They are the places that people turn to in real times of need. And, by choosing to bulk-bill, they're removing barriers and making a real difference in people's lives. I want to thank every doctor, every nurse, every practice manager, every accountant and every healthcare worker in these practices. As somebody that's worked in health care, I know the pressures that you face and I know that your decisions are driven by your commitment to patients. And this government is backing you. The impact of our reforms is being felt right across Australia, not just in Bullwinkel.”
“Since Labor strengthened Medicare bulk-billing and introduced additional incentives for GPs, we have seen five more GP practices in my electorate of Bullwinkel take up bulk-billing. That is five more practices, and all the doctors within those practices, making the choice to put patients first and ensure care is accessible to everyone. I want to take this opportunity to recognise the practices in Bullwinkel that are leading the way by offering these bulk-billing services for every patient in their communities. These include Chidlow Family Doctors, Gidgegannup Medical Centre, Gosnells Medical Clinic, Mount Helena Medical Centre, Armadale After Hours GP, Toodyay Medical Group, Wheatbelt Health Network, Gosnells GPs and Specialist Care, and Beverley Medical Practice.”
“They want to know that—if they're sick, have a chronic disease or need ongoing care—they can see a doctor without worrying about the bill at the end of the visit. And that is exactly what this government is focused on delivering. The Albanese Labor government is proudly committed to strengthening Medicare—a program which, of course, we started—because we believe health care is a right, not a privilege. The Albanese Labor government has made a record investment of $8.5 billion, the largest in Medicare's history, and it's already making a huge difference. We are expanding bulk-billing, training more doctors and nurses, and strengthening primary care right across the country.”
“This bill has established a clear and enduring legislative framework for Commonwealth primary care incentive payment programs, including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program. These programs are a vital part of how we support access, affordability and quality in our health system. They provide financial incentives to GPs and clinics through Medicare—our world-class, enviable, universal healthcare system—to ensure that what remains within reach for every Australian continues to do so. It matters completely in communities like mine in Bullwinkel in Western Australia. Bullwinkel covers a diverse mix of suburban, semirural and regional areas, where access to health care can at times be challenging. Families in my electorate want certainty.”
“Today I rise in strong support of the Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026. As federal member for Bullwinkel and as somebody that worked on the frontline as a nurse for decades, I know firsthand just how important a strong, accessible primary care system is to the health and wellbeing of our communities. Speaker, you may know, but, before I came to this place, I was a nurse. I saw the difference that timely access to a GP can make. I also saw what happens if people delay treatment because they can't see a GP because they're worried about the cost. That's problematic. That's why we're strengthening Medicare and making it easier for Australians to see a doctor. For me, it's not just policy; it's personal.”
“As a proud sponsor of the junior tennis club at Lesmurdie, it was a joy to be there for the junior club awards, the birthday cake and to see between 60 and 80 members brave the winter weather to celebrate their 60th birthday. I want to thank the Treasurer, John Daff, and the entire committee for their invitation and their tireless work behind the scenes. Whether it's protecting our hills from fire, raising funds for sick kids in Forrestfield or keeping the lights bright for the next generation of tennis players in Lesmurdie, the people of Bullwinkel look out for each other. I congratulate all of our local heroes and look forward to continuing to support them in this House.”
“For six decades, this club has been a hub for health, friendship and community connection in the Perth Hills. It was an absolute pleasure to join them on Saturday to mark their diamond jubilee, which happily coincided with the official turning on of their fantastic, new LED lights. This $105,000 upgrade is a game changer for the tennis club. It allows for more twilight and evening play. I'm incredibly proud that the election commitment made by the state Labor candidate Karen Beale was honoured by the Cook Labor government, who, alongside my colleague Klasey Hirst MLC, delivered a $60,000 grant. With Tennis Australia contributing $20,000 and the club investing $25,000 of its own hard earned funds, this project is a brilliant example of what happens when partnership meets community ambition.”
“The club goes well beyond the game—teaching, mentoring and supporting local young people while truly embracing and celebrating the rich multicultural fabric of the area. Recently, the club raised an impressive $8,000 for the Kids Cancer Support Group through raffle ticket sales, a sausage sizzle and a fun run. This is a remarkable example of clubs helping kids, and I want to sincerely thank Paul Mansfield and everyone involved in the club for their dedication. As someone who loves sport, I will continue to advocate for you. I look forward to supporting your efforts to getting new goalposts and LED lighting. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the Lesmurdie Tennis Club, who celebrated a momentous milestone this past weekend: their 60th birthday.”
“From serving 16 years as a Shire of Mundaring councillor—I took his spot on council when he retired!—to managing the high-stakes logistics for more than 20 aircraft during the devastating Black Summer bushfires, his leadership is legendary. Yet when you ask Colin what he's most proud of he points straight back to the community and his bushfire-ready group that he founded in 1996. 'It's all about the community working for the community,' Colin says. These recipients embody the spirit of service, and Bullwinkel is safer, stronger and richer for their contributions. I rise to give a heartfelt shout-out to the Forrestfield United Football Club for the incredible work they are doing.”
“I want to congratulate the four outstanding residents of Bullwinkel who were rightly recognised in the recent King's Birthday Honours List. Emeritus Professor Mark Bush AM was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to engineering, tertiary education and our community at Parkerville Volunteer Bushfire Brigade. Mrs Alva Knuckey OAM was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her tireless, selfless service to charitable organisations. Superintendent Jason Beesley APM received the Australian Police Medal for his exceptional, meritorious service to policing. And, of course, my good friend Colin James has been awarded the prestigious Australian Fire Service Medal. Colin has dedicated nearly 50 years to protecting our community, starting with the Darlington Bushfire Brigade in 1978.”
“This is what the Women's Budget Statement is for—to make visible what too often goes unseen and to hold ourselves accountable for progress. This budget helps women keep more of what they earn, builds safer and fairer systems and invests in the services that matter. I commend the Women's Budget Statement to the House.”
“In my electorate of Bullwinkel, I meet women who are working hard, caring for their families, studying, running small businesses and volunteering in our community. But they tell me the same thing—that the cost of living has tightened, that services can be hard to reach and that, too often, the systems that should support families can add stress instead. This budget responds to those realities with practical help and structural reform. As the first majority-women federal government, we are determined to keep delivering better outcomes for women and girls, not just as an add-on, not as a footnote, but as a core test of whether our economic plan is working. When women have more financial security, when children receive the support that they are owed, when health care is accessible and when safety is strengthened, the whole country benefits.”
“Millions of women have already accessed cheaper medicines and better care through the Albanese Labor government's landmark women's health package, including new access to contraception and menopause treatments on the PBS system. This budget adds a further $2 billion to strengthen Medicare, making it easier and cheaper for women to see a GP to get the care that they need. It also invests $2.7 million to make it easier for women to access and afford long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs and implants. Despite their efficacy, uptake in Australia has been comparatively low, and often this has been because of the cost and barriers to access. This investment will help remove those barriers, particularly for women in regional and rural areas.”
“Everyone should have a safe place to call home, especially women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. This budget invests $59.4 million over four years for community housing providers supporting young people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. Girls and young women make up around 66 per cent of homelessness service users. Far too many young people who are homeless, or at risk, have been affected by gender based violence as the reason they had to leave home. This budget also continues a record investment in women's health. For too long, women's health has not been taken seriously enough, and, when women's health is neglected, families and communities pay the price.”
“The average debt is nearly $8,700. For many families, $8,700 could be used for braces for children, sporting club fees, school excursions or the chance for a child to learn a musical instrument. That's astounding—$2 billion of debt, mainly owed to women. We know that the scheme can be weaponised after separation and used as a tool of coercion and control. These reforms will crack down on financial abuse, strengthen assessment and compliance and ensure more children and families receive the support that they are owed. These are the most significant changes to the child support system in nearly 20 years. They send a clear message: the Commonwealth will not allow systems to be exploited to extend harm. Third is housing security for women and girls in crisis.”
“Women's average weekly earnings have grown by almost $300 a week, more than one million families have benefited from cheaper child care and Australia has recorded its highest ever international ranking for gender equality—13th this year, up from 43rd when we came to government. We were 43rd when we came to government, and now we're 13th. We're making progress. Women have saved more than $647 million across almost 139 million prescriptions, including through expanded access to contraceptives and menopausal therapies. Second is safety and fairness for women, including safety in our systems. This budget invests almost $183 million over four years to make the child support system safer and more effective. Right now, around $2 billion in child support debt is unpaid, and women make up around 83 per cent of the recipients.”
“Alongside that, this budget introduces a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for work related expenses from the 2026-27 income year, making it simpler for millions of people to claim what they're entitled to without chasing receipts for every small expense. From the 2027-28 income year, it adds a permanent working Australians tax offset of up to $250 for income that's earned from work. Taken together, these measures mean the average worker will be better off by around $3,000 over the forward years. For many women in Bullwinkel, my electorate, and across the country, that is money that goes straight to the rent, the mortgage, to school costs and groceries. It is relief that backs women's participation in the workforce. We can see the progress that we've made since 2022 when you put women at the centre of economic policy.”
“This year's Women's Budget Statement shows a budget that is delivering for women in three practical ways: helping women keep more of what they earn; making systems safer and fairer, especially after separation; and strengthening the services that women rely on, from Medicare to housing in a crisis. Let's talk through that. First is cost-of-living relief and fairness in the tax system. From 1 July this year, every Australian taxpayer gets more tax cuts. The already legislated changes reduce the 16 per cent marginal rate to 15 per cent as of 1 July this year, and to 14 per cent the following year.”
“Today I rise to speak in support of the Women's Budget Statement and, importantly, to speak about what this budget means in the real lives of Australian women, in the home, in the workplace, in the doctor's waiting room and in the safety of their own homes. Labor introduced the world's first Women's Budget Statement back in the 1980s, and, in 2022, the Albanese Labor government brought it back. We did that because budgets are not gender neutral and neither is the economy. This statement shines a light on how budget decisions land differently for women and girls, and it embeds a simple discipline into the government whereby every budget proposal is tested for its impact on women as part of the process. That is gender-responsive budgeting, and it ensures that gender equality sits at the core of our economic agenda.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, how is the Albanese Labor government supporting local governments all around Australia to deliver more infrastructure, better services and greater prosperity for the communities that we all represent?”
“I'd like to add that I have invited ministers to the rural section of my electorate of Bullwinkel, and at least 16 ministers have come out to the region to see it for themselves, including Minister McBain; Senator Don Farrell, to talk to Northam people about trade; Minister Jason Clare, who, as I said, opened the Northam Study Hub together with the York Study Hub; Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins, to see and talk to the grain growers and the farmers in that area about the fuel crisis and the fertiliser issue; Ged Kearney, to look at social services and women's health and refuges; Patrick Gorman, to look at Services Australia; and Jenny McAllister, to talk about the regional aspect of the NDIS program and their outreach program. The Albanese Labor government are getting out and about into regional areas and delivering.”
“The Albanese Labor government isn't interested in cheap press releases. We are interested in long-lasting real delivery. We are cleaning up the mess of the past—when the regions were forgotten—and building a stronger, fairer regional Australia for tomorrow.”
“We have unlocked a landmark $10 billion fuel security and resilience package to safeguard our energy and fertiliser supply sovereignty, and we're investing an additional $3.7 billion in aged care, supporting the 500,000 older Australians in rural and remote areas with better facilities, including more home-care packages and reduced waiting times. Productivity and prosperity rely on working smarter. We've invested in regional fee-free TAFE, establishing 56 regional study hubs, including the one at Northam, which I was proud to open with Minister Jason Clare. We're also upgrading digital connectivity through our $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, and we're investing heavily in health, housing and education. We're securing the future of regions.”
“We have delivered tax cuts for every single worker, every single taxpayer, with another round of relief hitting our pockets in July. We've supported a wage rise for minimum and award wage workers. We've delivered a 20 per cent cut to student debt, helping young people in particular. We've capped all PBS medicines at $25 a script or less. We've also provided a 30 per cent discount on home batteries, to permanently drive down power bills. For our regional industries and older Australians, we are delivering.”
“We are backing this up with significant infrastructure investments: $7.2 billion for the Bruce Highway, $2.8 billion for the ARTC freight rail projects and a doubling of Roads to Recovery funding to $4.4 billion, with 85 per cent of that funding going directly to our regions. In my own electorate of Bullwinkel, I was incredibly proud to announce an election commitment to deliver an early childhood education centre in the Shire of Mundaring. For-profit providers often ignore regional areas, but our government is stepping up with capital grants to build not-for-profit centres where they are desperately needed, giving regional kids the best possible start to life. We know that regional families are feeling the squeeze of the cost of living. This is why our cost-of-living relief is broad and impactful.”
“We know that attracting healthcare professionals like myself to the regions is a long-term challenge, and that is why we're investing more than $600 million to grow the regional workforce, training a record number of GPs and waiving HECS debt for doctors and nurses who commit five years to working in our regional communities. Our support doesn't stop at health. We are tackling the housing supply crisis head on. In the 2026-27 budget, I'm proud to highlight our new $2 billion Local Infrastructure Fund under the Housing Support Program. This includes $500 million specifically dedicated to local enabling infrastructure in regional Australia. This is real, practical support to unlock regional housing supply.”
“Furthermore, our Medicare urgent care clinics have been an absolute game changer. All 137 clinics have been opened across the country, and 47 of them are located right in regional, rural and remote areas, and they are providing free top-tier care to families where they need it the most. I'm also very proud to have opened a Medicare urgent care clinic in my own electorate of Bullwinkel, in the Shire of Mundaring and in the suburb of Mundaring. That has now seen well over 3,000 patients since opening only three months ago. Located near the Great Eastern Highway, it services a lot of the peri-urban and regional suburbs where they need it.”
“We are delivering across every single program and across every single portfolio to ensure that regional Australians are structurally considered in everything that we do. Our guiding principle is simple: no-one held back and no-one left behind. Nowhere is this holistic approach more critical than in regional health care. We have committed to the largest investment in the history of Medicare to ensure quality, affordable care is a right and not a privilege, and is not dictated by your postcode. We have expanded bulk-billing incentives, and the results speak for themselves. Before our reforms, only about 2,000 general practices nationwide fully bulk-billed patients. Today that number has grown by 1,300 practices, and it increases every single day. By 2030, nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed.”
“I rise today to speak about a fundamental shift in how the government serves the people who live outside of our major cities. I represent the electorate of Bullwinkel, which of course has a peri-urban section and also a rural section. For nearly a decade, regional Australians watched a coalition government treat regional investment like a game of political pork-barrelling. They would drop a chunk of money into a selective seat, issue a breathless press release and call it a day. The tragedy is that so many of those promised projects were never actually delivered. They left behind a mess of unfulfilled promises and neglected infrastructure. The Albanese Labor government are doing things differently. We don't just build a single road or hand out a single grant and walk away. We believe in systemic, lasting progress.”
“They see Medicare as a line to be cut in the budget, and we see it as promises to be kept. They want to protect the flexibility of insurers to hike prices; we want to protect the flexibility of families to pay their rent. In conclusion, this bill is a clear-eyed response to the cost-of-living pressures that are facing Australians. It empowers patients with data on specialist fees, protects consumers from corporate trickery and reinforces our longstanding commitment to a Medicare system that is strong and fair. I commend the bill to the House.”
“We are bringing the same level of clinical accountability we expect in our hospital wards to the boardrooms of insurers. The member for Goldstein recently claimed in this House that he doesn't want to privatise Medicare, but his records and his writings tell a different story. He has spent his career arguing against a 'nanny state', which in his vocabulary seems to include the basic safety net that keeps Australians alive and healthy. When the shadow treasurer talks about ambition, he means the ambition for individuals to shoulder the burden for a failing system. When we talk about ambition, we mean the ambition of a government that uses its power to protect its citizens from predatory pricing. The coalition's view on Medicare is out of step with Australian values.”
“An insurer would see a product that was perhaps too good for the consumer. Maybe it had low gaps or high coverage. To raise the price, they would have to justify that to the minister and, to avoid that, they would simply sunset the product. They'd send a letter to my constituents in High Wycombe or Mundaring and say: 'Your plan is retiring. Here are your new options.' And, like a phoenix rises from the ashes, a new plan, extremely similar to the previous one, appears. It looks the same and it smells the same, but it costs 10 per cent more. Because it's new, it bypasses the minister's desk. That's unfair. This bill ensures that the Minister for Health and Ageing, not a corporate board in an offshore office, is the final gatekeeper for the value of Australians' policies.”
“Just last month, the shadow treasurer was out there decrying the 4.41 per cent premium increase, an increase that was necessary partly because his party had left the private hospital system on the brink of collapse. He talked about inflation clangers, but where was his voice when insurance were using phoenixing to hike prices without any oversight? He wants deregulation; this bill offers protection. He wants the market to rip; we want the family budget to rest. Some on the opposition side might call ministerial oversight 'red tape', but, as a nurse, I call it patient safety. In a hospital, we have protocols to ensure transparency and accountability. Why should the insurance market be any different? Let's be clear about how the bait and switch of product phoenixing works.”
“We are ensuring that the clinical pathway isn't blocked by a lack of data. This bill allows the healthcare team, the GPs, the nurses and the patients to focus on the recovery and not the invoice. But transparency about fees is only half the battle. We must also address the transparency of the insurers. There is this deceptive practice that I mentioned earlier known as product phoenixing. This occurs when an insurer closes an existing product only to immediately open an identical one at a higher premium rate specifically to bypass ministerial scrutiny. Currently, insurers may seek approval to raise premiums on existing products, but, by killing off the old product and birthing a new one, they avoid this law. This bill slams that loophole shut. We are requiring approval for any proposed new product and any change that reduces value.”
“I have stood in clinics from the Perth foothills and the Perth Hills to the Kimberley and the Pilbara, and I have seen and experienced the referral barrier first-hand. As nurses, our role is to advocate for the patient, but it is heartbreakingly difficult to advocate for a patient's health when they are terrified of the cost. I have seen patients walk out of a specialist referral holding a piece of paper that looks like they've received a debt notice rather than a lifeline. When a patient doctor-shops or delays a procedure because they can't get a straight answer on out-of-pocket costs, their condition can worsen. As a nurse, I know that delayed care is denied care. By automating the Medical Costs Finder system, we are removing the financial triage that patients are currently forced to perform.”
“He suggested that every Australian should have an individual health account to pay for their own care. That's not a healthcare system; that's an invoice system. It's an American-style version where your health is determined by your bank balance. It's no wonder they couldn't get a transparency tool to work. They don't want you to see the bill until it's too late to pay it. Our amendments on this bill will allow the Medical Costs Finder to publish data drawn directly from Medicare, hospitals and insurance billing data. We are shining a light into the black box of medical pricing because informed patients make for a healthier Australia. I speak on this not just as the member for Bullwinkel but as a nurse who has spent decades on the front line.”
“The Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that medical and hospital services are the primary drivers of inflation for consumers. We see fees for the very same procedure vary wildly and sometimes by thousands of dollars, and that's between specialists within the same cities. This is called the cost lottery. This bill fixes the failed attempts of the past. The previous government spent a whopping $24 million on the Medical Costs Finder website. That was a ghost town. It relied on doctors voluntarily uploading their fees. Out of 11,000 specialists, how many signed up? Seven. Seven individual doctors. This failure isn't a surprise when you look at the ideology of the man who now holds the coalition's purse strings. The shadow treasurer has previously advocated for the transfer of health financing from government to individuals.”
“This is done by insurers specifically to bypass ministerial scrutiny. We are ensuring that when Australians need medical advice they have the power to find the best value and when they pay their private health premiums they have the confidence that they are not being played for fools by corporate loopholes. This contrasts with the rhetoric that we've heard from the shadow treasurer, the member for Goldstein. While we are here trying to lower out-of-pocket costs, he's been in this chamber describing our health investments as debt petrol on an inflation fire. He claims to care about cost of living, yet he stands with a party that presided over a decade of Medicare neglect. He calls our targeted cost-saving measures 'wasteful spending' but ignores the waste created by a system that leaves patients in the dark.”
“I rise today to speak on a bill that is fundamentally about fairness, transparency and the restoration of trust in our healthcare system: the Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026. For too many Australians, a visit to the specialist is preceded by a calculation of fear, not just for their health but of the fees that they cannot predict. This bill delivers on the Albanese Labor government's rock-solid commitment to strengthening Medicare. To summarise briefly, this bill fixes two things. It increases transparency in our healthcare system and outlaws product phoenixing, which is a deceptive practice where an insurer closes an existing product only to open another one immediately which is identical except for a higher premium.”
“You can see it nationally in the budget figures, and you can also see it locally in places like High Wycombe in the seat of Bullwinkel. We are fixing the foundations of our housing system, we are backing first home buyers, we're supporting renters and we're building the homes that Australia needs. I commend this magnificent Labor housing agenda to the House.”
“Safe and affordable housing is central to the security and dignity of all Australians. Despite the endless obstruction and delays from the coalition, our Housing Australia Future Fund is up and running. As of June last year, contracts have already been signed to support 18,650 homes under the first two rounds of HAFF. More than 1,400 homes are completely finished, and hundreds of Australians are already sleeping soundly under those roofs. Now HAFF round 3 has opened. It is our largest round to date, set to deliver more than 21,000 more social and affordable homes. This builds beautifully on our $2 billion social housing accelerator payment and our $1 billion HAFF crisis and transitional program. The momentum is real.”
“As of 1 July 2027, we're also replacing the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount with inflation adjusted indexation, restoring fairness to the taxation of real gains. Finally, we have not forgotten the millions of Australians who rent. We have introduced powerful new incentives for projects that offer secure long-term leases, and we have worked constructively with state and territory governments to make renting fairer. Because of Labor's leadership, most states have now successfully banned no-grounds evictions and implemented strict minimum living standards. Crucially, we have delivered back-to-back increases in Commonwealth rent assistance. Under this Albanese Labor government, rent assistance is now 50 per cent higher, providing immediate, targeted cost-of-living relief directly to renters who need it most.”
“On 1 October last year, this government delivered on its commitment to expand the five per cent deposit scheme to all first home buyers, allowing people to start paying off their own mortgage instead of somebody else's—and we did it three months ahead of schedule. Then, in December 2025, we launched our revolutionary Help to Buy scheme, helping eligible first-time buyers walk through their front door with a mortgage that was up to 40 per cent smaller. We didn't stop there. In this budget, the 2026-27 budget, we took the brave but necessary steps to level the playing field. From the 2027-28 financial year, we are limiting negative gearing on residential property so that it can only be used for new builds. That means negative gearing is grandfathered for existing properties, but, going forward, it is only on new builds.”