By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
Federal Government MPs have denied claims by the Opposition, which argued Labor had \u201cabandoned its urgent care clinic promise for Hawke\u201d.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, a joint media release from Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston, and Shadow Minister for Communications Senator Sarah Henderson, argued the Albanese Government had failed to fulfill an election promise on urgent care clinics.<\/p>\n
The Liberal Senators said that Prime Minister Albanese had promised to \u201cdeliver 50 \u2018urgent\u2019 care clinics within the first 12 months in government, including the clinics promised for the electorate of Hawke\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Senators state that only three of those 50 urgent care clinics have received Expressions of Interest, with the EOI period set to end on 24 March.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not only another disrespectful broken promise to the Australian people, but it also leaves our hard-working and under-pressure hospital and healthcare staff in an ongoing state of complete uncertainty,\u201d Senator Ruston said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, the Labor Government broke their promise to reduce electricity bills by $275, and then they disregarded their commitment to fund the aged care pay rise in full. Now, they are deferring their signature election promise aimed at supporting state and territory health systems, at a time when we are seeing ramping at an all-time high, concerning levels of deferred elective surgeries, and a crisis in general practice.\u201d <\/p>\n
Senator Henderson mentioned Federal MP for Hawke Sam Rae \u2013 whose electorate includes Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Melton, and Sunbury \u2013 by name.<\/p>\n
\u201cSam Rae promised the people of Hawke an urgent care clinic to take the pressure off emergency departments in our public hospital system as well as hardworking doctors and nurses. This clinic was meant to be up and running within 12 months but has turned into another Labor failure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr Rae’s commitment was all headline and no substance \u2013 he is not even able to tell us where this clinic will be located\u2026I call on Mr Rae to immediately confirm the location of the urgent care clinic and when it will be delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to Senator Ruston and Henderson\u2019s claims, Mr Rae and Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said an urgent care clinic would be established in Hawke, in Sunbury specifically.<\/p>\n
\u201cSenator Ruston and Henderson\u2019s comments are wrong and dishonest. After nearly a decade of Liberal neglect, Medicare is the worst shape it has ever been. To see your GP costs more and takes longer than ever,\u201d Mr Rae told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cLabor is fixing Medicare. Opening our Urgent Care Clinics \u2013 like the one to be opened in Sunbury \u2013 is a huge first step. We\u2019re getting on with delivering this important election commitment with EOIs being sought imminently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister Butler said the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics mean more families in Sunbury will get top-quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese clinics are a key part of the Government\u2019s plan to strengthen Medicare by making it easier to see a doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Butler confirmed that all Urgent Care Clinics will be open this year, with EOIs for Victoria to be sought imminently.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis Federal Government MPs have denied claims by the Opposition, which argued Labor had \u201cabandoned its urgent care clinic promise for Hawke\u201d. Earlier this month, a joint media release from Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston, and Shadow Minister for Communications Senator Sarah Henderson, argued the Albanese Government had […]<\/p>\n