Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:52): I thank Senator Smith for her question and for the great work that she does as a senator for South Australia. Bulk-billing is the beating heart of Medicare, and Labor will always strengthen it. The May budget provided an historic $6.1 billion investment in Medicare to lay the foundations for significant reforms to general practice and primary care for all Australians. We have boosted indexation of Medicare payments, with boosts in July and November delivering the largest increase to Medicare payments since Paul Keating was prime minister. In fact, the Albanese government has delivered a larger increase in one year than the former government delivered over seven years. From 1 November the incentives that general practitioners receive to bulk-bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession cardholders will be tripled for most common GP consults. It will be easier to find— Senator McKenzie: If you can find a GP! Senator FARRELL: You let them down too. You didn't deliver enough of them, Senator McKenzie— Senator McKenzie: Changing the district of workforce shortages means there are fewer doctors, The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator FARRELL: another failure of your government. It will be easier to find a bulk-billing doctor for around five million children and their families and seven million pensioners and other concession cardholders. Together, these patients account for three out of five visits to GPs. These changes mean that we are making it easier to see a bulk-billing doctor for more than 11 million Australians. Senator Ruston: Do you really believe that? Senator FARRELL: Yes, I do believe it. I do believe it because when we say we're going to do something, unlike your government, Senator Ruston, we do it. (Time expired) Senator Hughes: How are those energy bills going? The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Smith, first supplementary?