Labor unveils next step in Medicare overhaul

Anthony Albanese has announced the next step in Labor’s Medicare plan, pledging $644m to build dozens of more urgent care clinics.

Labor has announced a $644m bid to open 50 more urgent care clinics, building on Anthony Albanese’s centrepiece $8.5bn election promise to boost bulk-billing GPs.

Saturday’s announcement will increase the number of urgent care clinics from 87 to 137, with builds planned in every state and territory.

The clinics are slated to open by July 1, 2026 and once delivered will ensure four out of five Australians live within a 20-minute drive from a clinic, according to Department of Health and Aged Care analysis.

NSW will get 14 new clinics, while Victoria and Queensland will get 12 and 10 new clinics respectively.

Western Australia is set to receive six clinics, with Tasmania and South Australia both getting three more.

The two territories – NT and the ACT – will both get one new clinic each.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Urgent Care Clinic at the Goonawarra Medical Centre in Sunbury to announce an overhaul to the system. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The Prime Minister said the latest announcement was on top of Labor’s “largest investment in Medicare in over 40 years”.

“This announcement of 50 additional Urgent Care Clinics if we are re-elected will provide the urgent care people need – and all you will need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,” he said.

“Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing health care, under Labor, Medicare will be there for all Australians, in every community.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said only a re-elected Labor government would ensure urgent care clinics remained open.

“The Liberals had nine years to open Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and they never opened a single one. Now they call Labor’s clinics ‘wasteful spending’ and want to close every single one of them,” he said.

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are an Albanese government initiative because we believe in Medicare and in free urgent care, fully bulk billed.”

The Prime Minister and Opposition exchanged blows around Medicare throughout the week. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

While the Coalition has promised to match Labor’s $8.5bn Medicare promise, which would deliver an additional 18 million bulk billed GP visits each year, plus 400 nursing scholarships, and more funding to train GPs, Peter Dutton has also thrown in an additional $500m for mental health support.

The Opposition has also vowed to double the number of psychologist sessions Australians can claim under a mental health treatment plan from 10 to 20.

“The Coalition recognises the urgent need for better access to bulk billed services in the middle of Labor’s healthcare crisis,” Mr Dutton said.

“That is why a Dutton Coalition Government will match the $8.5 billion investment into Medicare dollar-for-dollar to fix Labor’s mess and restore bulk billing back up to Coalition levels.”

Originally published as Labor unveils next step in Medicare overhaul