Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:06): Thanks to Senator Marielle Smith for her question and for her focus on health costs and affordable health care for Australians. She is a member of a government and a party that understands what Medicare is. We understand what Medicare is and, unlike those opposite, we will always work to strengthen Medicare. That is why our government has worked to make medicines cheaper, has worked to increase bulk-billing, has established urgent care clinics to help patients access the care they need and is strengthening Medicare. Senator Ruston: How's that going? Increase bulk-billing? It's gone backwards by 11 per cent. Senator WONG: I'll take the interjection from Senator Ruston. We know her record when it comes to this. We remember her in this chamber giving everyone in Australia a lecture about how we have to make Medicare more sustainable: 'That's why we can't put more money into it. We have to cut more, or we have to charge you more.' This year, this government froze the price of PBS medicines for general patients until the end of 2025 and at $7.70 for concession patients until the end of 2029. We have delivered the largest price reduction in the 75-year history of the PBS. Australians have saved billions on cheaper prescriptions since January 2023, in part because of the introduction of 60-day prescriptions for around 300 common medicines. Who opposed that? Senator Ruston: You cannot lie. You cannot lie. Senator WONG: Who is now shouting at me and pretending they care about Medicare, after voting for more expensive medicines for Australians? That is you, Senator Ruston. The PRESIDENT: Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston, withdraw that comment. Senator Ruston: In the interests of the chamber, I withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator WONG: Cheaper medicines under us—more expensive medicines under them. The PRESIDENT: Senator Marielle Smith, first supplementary?