Both major parties commit to build an urgent care clinic in Cairns ahead of federal election
Cairns is all but guaranteed an urgent care clinic with Labor and the Coalition’s candidates both committing to build the new health service, if elected.
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Labor has matched the Coalition’s commitment to open an urgent care clinic in Cairns with the location still yet to be determined, if re-elected.
The LNP’s candidate for Leichhardt, Jeremy Neal, announced on Saturday that an elected Dutton government would deliver the health service for the Far North.
The ALP’s Matt Smith followed on, declaring that his party would do the same as part of a $644m commitment to improve health services nationwide.
Under Labor, the clinic would be based in Cairns’ northern suburbs.
The rising cost of seeing a GP under Labor had placed more pressure on Cairns Hospital, Mr Neal said.
“Local families are struggling to pay their bills, their groceries and their rent and mortgages, and after three years of Labor, they’re also having to fork out 45 per cent more to see a GP,” Mr Neal said.
“Medicare bulk billing rates have collapsed from 88 percent under the last Liberal National government, to 77 per cent under Albanese’s Labor Government.
“I will never accept a situation where members of our community can’t access the healthcare they need.”
But Mr Smith said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a proven track record with the latest announcement taking Labor’s spending on health to just under $10bn.
“Medicare urgent care clinics are an Albanese Government initiative because we believe in Medicare and in free urgent care, fully bulk billed,” Mr Smith said.
“I’ve been petitioning in the northern suburbs for a Medicare urgent care clinic and after securing hundreds of signatures, I am proud to announce that a Medicare UCC will be delivered.
The LNP’s senator Susan McDonald said investing in new health services for a growing region like Leichhardt was critical.
“I have spoken to countless families that, as a result of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis, are having to choose between putting food on the table or healthcare,” Senator McDonald said.
“The rising cost of seeing a GP means Urgent Care Clinics have become one of the only remaining avenues for communities to access bulk-billing medical services, which is why it is critical that we make more available.
“Only a Liberal National Government can be trusted to deliver the healthcare that our communities need.”
Cairns-based Labor Senator Nita Green said the Coalition couldn’t be trusted.
“Australia’s doctors voted Peter Dutton the worst Health Minister in Medicare history for a reason,” Ms Green said.
“You can’t trust the LNP with Medicare: you can’t trust them to open urgent care clinics, and you can’t trust them to keep them open.”
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