Mr MICHAEL FERGUSON (2:49 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister update the House on the latest GP bulk-billing figures, including bulk-billing figures for Tasmania?

Mr ABBOTT (Minister for Health and Ageing) —I can understand the enthusiasm of the member for Bass, because I can inform him that the GP bulk-billing rate in Tasmania is up 18.4 per cent since December 2003. We had not a single word on health from the Leader of the Opposition in his budget reply or in his National Press Club speech, because of the divisions on his frontbench over the so-called Medicare Gold policy. But from this Howard government there is more good news on health.

The March quarter GP bulk-billing rate was 73.7 per cent, and that is a 7.2 per cent increase on December 2003. For children under 16, 80.7 per cent of GP visits were bulk-billed, and that is a 12.9 per cent increase on December 2003. Labor denies a tax cut for people over 65 but because of the Howard government 84.5 per cent of GP consultations for people over 65 are bulk-billed. That is a 10.5 per cent increase since December 2003. The bulk-billing rate in country areas is up 14.3 per cent since December 2003 and, as I said, 18.4 per cent in Tasmania.

Bulk-billing is certainly not the be-all and end-all of Medicare but it is important; it should be widely available, particularly for children and pensioners. That is precisely what is happening under the Howard government, and that is why the Howard government is still the best friend that Medicare has ever had.

Mr Costello interjecting—