SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR SPORT
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS IN THE SENATE

HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

5 March 2024

IT IS HARDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE TO SEE A DOCTOR UNDER LABOR

It has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor, as the data points to a primary care system at crisis point under the Albanese Labor Government. 

Recent investigations have revealed that Australians have lost access to more than 400 dedicated bulkbilling GP clinics over the past 12 months. In Canning, the number of bulk billing clinics has declined by 20.7% in just one year.

It is clear that affordable access to a doctor is only getting worse, as Labor oversees the worst GP bulk billing rates in a decade.

Despite being at 79.2% under the Coalition, the number of Australians accessing bulk billed GP appointments in Western Australia has dropped to 72.8% under Labor.

The Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston, said that affordable healthcare has never been more important than during the current cost-of-living crisis, but bulk billing is collapsing under Labor. 

“We are really concerned that 1.2 million Australians avoided seeing a doctor last year due to cost, as they were forced to choose between putting food on the table, paying their bills or visiting their GP,” Senator Ruston said.

Local Member Andrew Hastie MP said that the Albanese Labor Government is overseeing a healthcare system at crisis point and it has done nothing to help struggling families in Canning.

“Labor has slashed Medicare support for mental health patients in half, they have cut 70 telehealth items from Medicare, and patients are now having to pay more from their own pockets to see a doctor. 

“To make matters worse, we know that a weaker primary care system places even more pressure on our already over-burdened hospitals, increasing wait times at local EDs,” Mr Hastie said.

“My local hospital, the Peel Health Campus, has faced unacceptable rates of ambulance ramping, delays to essential upgrades, and a chronic lack of funding.

“Labor’s inaction on both the healthcare and cost-of-living crises presents a dangerous combination—one that is costing people their lives.”

The Coalition is focused on holding Labor to account to ensure all Australians have timely access to critical healthcare when they need it.

[ENDS]