Dr CHALMERS (Rankin—Treasurer) (14:36): Thanks to the member for Werriwa for her question but, much more importantly than that, thanks for being a champion for Medicare in your local community to the south-west of Sydney. Even with the progress we've made, getting inflation down to half what we inherited from those opposite, getting real wages growing again, keeping unemployment low and seeing three interest rate cuts already this year, we know that Australians are still under pressure. But, more than acknowledging that, we're doing something about it. We're delivering cost-of-living relief, we're securing our triple-A credit rating, and we're managing the budget and managing the economy in a responsible way.

One of the most important ways we are delivering that cost-of-living relief is by strengthening Medicare in every community. As the Minister for Health said a moment ago, Saturday was a really important day, because we started expanding bulk-billing incentives and started bonuses for practices that bulk-bill every patient. We are strengthening Medicare because more bulk-billing means less pressure on families. It's the same reason we're building more urgent care clinics. It's the same reason we lifted the low-income threshold for the Medicare levy, and why we're making medicines cheaper, at the same times as we're protecting penalty rates, boosting wages, cutting student debt, helping with electricity bills and making batteries cheaper, and at the same time as we've got two more tax cuts on the way. It's why we're boosting super balances, and the LISTO, and getting the super guarantee to 12 per cent. It's why we're paying super on paid parental leave, paying it on payday, making super fairer from top to bottom, as the Prime Minister said a moment ago.

The progress we have made together in our economy has already given the Reserve Bank board the confidence to cut interest rates three times this year. When we came to office, interest rates were coming up; they've gone down three times this year. The interest rate cuts that are already in the system are saving a household with a $700,000 mortgage about $330 a month, or around $4,000 a year. So, we are delivering cost-of-living help and responsible economic management, and that's the difference between this side of the House and that side of the House. They are divided, they are divisive and they are in disarray. The have net zero credibility on the cost of living, on the budget and on the economy.

But we won't be distracted by the hunger games that are playing out on that side of the House. We will continue to deliver for the people who sent us here to represent them. Strengthening Medicare and delivering cost-of-living relief in the most responsible way we can is a really important part of that effort.

Link to Hansard: Full Question