I worked for three decades in our public hospitals as a paediatric neurologist, researcher, and administrator. Prioritising access to general practice and mental health care will help all Australians live healthier lives.
Since 2022, I’ve represented our community, and amplified your voices —and those of patient groups, clinicians, and industry—on a wide range of healthcare issues:
- I’ve pushed for Medicare reform, to shift the focus from incentivising high patient turnover to encouraging GPs to prioritise quality preventive care—to keep people healthy, not just see them when they’re sick.
- Leaving dental out of Medicare is a 5-decade old mistake. Untreated dental conditions cost the country $45 billion in lost productivity every year, and we pay more for emergency care of dental problems than we would for a universal system of preventative and basic dental care. I’ll continue to push the major parties to act on this important issue.
- I’ve advocated for better funded allied health services, including psychology. We don’t put a quota on GP visits: we shouldn’t ration mental health care to 10 or 20 visits a year, if Australians need more than that.
- I’m a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport; we’ve undertaken inquiries into long COVID, diabetes, and alcohol and drug services in Australia.
- Gambling advertising – and advertising of other harmful industries – harms Australians. I support a complete ban on gambling advertising as proposed by the Murphy report.
- Australians deserve access to new treatments as they’re developed and shouldn’t have to cope with medication shortages. Our systems for approving, funding, and supplying medications, vaccines, and new technologies are too slow and opaque. I support evidence-based reform of AHPRA, the TGA and the PBS.
- Our government subsidises both private health insurers and private hospitals by at least $14bn/ year, but its oversight of that funding is poor. We need more transparency about the out-of-pocket costs for Australians using those services, and how best we can target those subsidies.
- We need to ensure that all Australians can receive best practice care wherever they live - and that healthcare, including specialist care - remains affordable for all.
- Medical research funding in Australia is inadequate. Our world-leading researchers and biotech companies could contribute more to our economy and our health if given better regulatory and financial support.
Issues on which I’ll focus in the 48th Parliament include:
- Better primary healthcare for all Australians, including mental health care.
- Universal basic dental care through Medicare.
- A National Women’s Health Strategy for all aspects of reproductive and non-reproductive health.
- A complete ban on gambling advertising.
- Reform of the private health sector.
Parliamentary speeches
Cheaper, more convenient prescribing and dispensing of medicines
Disability care and the NDIS
4.4 million Australians live with disability. 15% of them are on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. All Australians deserve best practice care and support.
I have three decades of practical experience in the disability sector, and I’m a member of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS.
The NDIS is a vital part of disability care in Australia, but it has expanded too quickly, while state-based services have collapsed.
In 2024 the government legislated significant reforms to the NDIS, including changes to foundational (early intervention) supports. I worked extensively with constituents and experts from the disability and legal sectors on that legislation. I met repeatedly with the Minister, Department, and NDIA. Together we identified numerous areas where the legislation could be improved. I was the only MP to amend the legislation in the House of Representatives.
There are still concerns about how the recent changes will affect NDIS recipients. I’ll continue to work with the disability community to advocate on its behalf, and to work with the government, the NDIA, and other parts of our health system, to ensure quality care for all Australians with disability
Parliamentary speeches