Labor promises it will open 50 more Medicare urgent care clinics across the country

The Australian Labor Party has pledged to invest AUD 8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare, with a key initiative being the establishment of 50 additional urgent care clinics.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today that if the Labor Party is elected in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, the government will allocate AUD 644 million to open these clinics. Albanese stated that once the 50 new clinics are operational, most Australians will have access to urgent medical care within a 20-minute drive.

Prime Minister Albanese emphasized, "Whether your family needs urgent medical attention or ongoing healthcare, under Labor, Medicare will provide coverage for every Australian in every community." He added, "Once all Labor clinics are open, four out of five Australians will live within a 20-minute drive of a no-appointment-needed Medicare Urgent Care Clinic."

According to the plan, New South Wales will have 14 clinics, Victoria 12, Queensland 10, Western Australia 6, South Australia 3, Tasmania 3, and the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory 1 each. Albanese pointed out that the Labor Party has already opened 87 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, which provide extended-hours, no-appointment medical services daily, primarily for urgent but non-life-threatening health issues.

Furthermore, Labor has also promised that by 2030, most Australians will have access to free doctor visits, as part of its multi-billion dollar Medicare commitment. Albanese stated that Labor will invest AUD 8.5 billion over four years, dedicated to achieving universal bulk billing, which will make 90% of GP visits free. The Prime Minister expects this will increase the number of 100% bulk-billing clinics to 4,800, saving patients AUD 859 million annually by 2030. This proposal will be the largest investment in the system since the creation of Medicare in 1984. Currently, approximately 80% of GPs do not accept bulk billing for standard appointments.