Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, , 9:12:47 to 9:16:07
The department presents updated national bulk billing data showing a 5% increase over the last year, with specific focus on rising rates in Western Australia.
Topics: Health, Government spending
Speakers: Senator Ellie Whiteaker, Speaker 41, Senator The Hon Anne Ruston, Unknown Speaker, Mr Duncan McIntyre
I have a couple of quick questions and then I'll go to Senator Ruston. Um I was going to ask if you had the latest bulk billing data, which I believe you've provided us, so thank you for that. Um you just confirm for me what is the national bulk billing rate in your latest data?
Uh for the uh financial year or for the June quarter, I can provide both.
If you've got both, yeah, I'd love to hear it.
Okay, so uh for the financial year, uh the bulk billing rate for all of Australia is 80.9%. And for the June quarter it is 84.1%.
That's very impressive. Can you remind me what the numbers uh were at this same time last year?
Uh for the June quarter for 2024-25, the bulk billing rate was 79.2%.
So from the June quarter last year to the June quarter this year, it's quite a significant about a 5%.
We usually compare quarters to quarters because of seasonal variation in a year. So we don't really prepare the June quarter to the quarter before that.
Yes, that makes sense. Yep. Yep.
Uh so the national rate for um all of Australia for the uh financial year was 77.9%.
Seems that's for the 2024-25 financial year.
Thank you. That's excellent. I'm very pleased to hear that. Are we seeing increases right across the country in every state and territory?
Correct.
I'm going to ask you about my home state, Western Australia. Historically, we have not always kept pace with some of the other states on bulk billing rates. Um, but I'm very pleased that we are making some progress and seeing those rates finally rise. Can you give me the WA bulk billing rates as they are now?
So WA 2024-25 was 70, the national, also sorry, WA was 70.4%. And in 2526, it is 73.2%. And for the quarter. And in 25-26, it is 76.8%.
That's very, very good news to hear that our bulk billing rates in Western Australia are growing. So thank you. And can you remind me how much was the commitment in last year's budget to increase bulk billing rates?
Yeah, I think I've updated.
Senator Liz Develin, Deputy Secretary of Prevention, Primary Care and Medicare Group. So we often refer to the $7.9 billion commitment of the government to increase bulk billing.
Great. Thank you. That's it from me. I will go to Senator Ruston, who will take us to dinner break at 6.15.