Federal Election 2025: Peter Dutton calls out Labor for ‘lies’ about Coalition’s Medicare track record during Tasmania rally
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has warned voters not to listen to "Labor lies" about the Coalition's health policy, telling a rally in Tasmania that the opposition had pledged to spend "more money than Labor" on Medicare and health.
5 | Labor ‘desperate’ to tie Peter Dutton with Donald Trump |
Peter Dutton has accused federal Labor of lying about the Coalition’s health policy during a Liberal Party rally in Tasmania.
Australia’s smallest state is shaping up to be a key battleground this election, with three seats up for grabs.
Speaking to Liberal Party faithful on Sunday, Mr Dutton said the Coalition would "get Tasmania back on track", announcing an $80 million commitment to duplicate the Bass Highway between Launceston and Deloraine.
He also used the event as an opportunity to hit back at the Albanese government’s attacks on the Coalition’s health care policy.
“There are a lot of Labor lies flying around at the moment… none bigger than in relation to the Medicare system and health care in this country,” Mr Dutton said.
“The Prime Minister hasn't said this to Australians. But here's a fact: the bulk billing rate in our country has fallen by 8 per cent under Labor – down from 78 per cent under us to 70 per cent under Labor.
Mr Dutton said the Coalition would invest more in Australia’s health care system than Labor, and would increase the number of subsidised mental health sessions.
“We'll invest $9.4 billion into Medicare and into health – more money than Labor,” he said.
“We’ll increase the subsidised mental health sessions from 10 to 20. We'll make it permanent, and it'll restore back to the number it was before Labor cut it in half.
The Opposition Leader said the Coalition would spend “$750 million for Tasmanian hospitals for 25-26, an increase of $90 million from 24-25”.
“We'll make sure that we establish new urgent care clinics in Burnie and Sorell, and we will contribute $8 million to help establish the Burnie Health Hub.
“That will be great for Tasmania. It'll be great for families. It'll be great for older Australians living here in Tasmania as well,” he said.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at this election voters faced a choice between a Labor government that is “strengthening Medicare and building Australia's future” and “Peter Dutton, who wants to cut everything except for your income taxes”.
“You and the people that you love can count on quality healthcare. All of this is fundamental to what it means to be Australian. And all of this is at stake at this election,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the Labor government has had “less than three years to repair the decade of damage that the Liberals inflicted on Australia's health system”.
“You might remember that the last time they were in opposition they promised no cuts to health. And then the first thing that Peter Dutton did was to rip $50 billion out of hospitals, followed by years of cuts inflicted on Medicare by a freeze that put bulk billing in free fall.
“And never forget this: That was his backup plan. His original goal was to abolish bulk billing altogether, to put a new charge on every Australian every single time they went to a doctor, or needed medicine or – unbelievably – when they went to a hospital emergency department.
“That is his record. That is the risk. The only way to protect Medicare and strengthen it is to vote Labor on 3 May.”
The Prime Minister told the Labor rally that the party’s commitment to Australia’s health system could be summed up as “Medicare”.
“That’s what a Labor government does in health. We honour this promise that comes with this piece of green and gold,” Mr Albanese said, while holding up a Medicare card.
“That is why we are delivering the biggest investment in bulk billing in the history of Medicare.
"To make sure that wherever you live, no matter how much you earn, your Medicare card means you can see a GP for free.”