Greens tout vision for free healthcare clinics

GREENS leader Adam Bandt visited the Northern Rivers last week to outline a proposal for six free healthcare clinics in the region as part of the party’s broader healthcare vision.

He joined The Greens’ candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan and candidate for Page Luke Robinson at Meldrum Park in Ballina to launch the GP for Free plan.

Mr Bandt said the clinics would be located at Lennox Head, Ballina, Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah and Kingscliff and would each have a GP, a dentist, a registered nurse and a psychologist.

“Getting access to healthcare is becoming a huge problem and it’s part of the bigger cost-of-living and housing crisis that’s happening at the moment,” he said.

“Housing in the Richmond electorate is the least affordable of anywhere in the country.

“People are really being stretched and after paying their mortgage, rent or groceries they don’t have any money left, so they are skipping essentials like going to the doctor.

“That’s wrong and in a wealthy country like Australia they should be able to get the healthcare they need.”

Mr Bandt said there are only four fully bulk-billing GP clinics in the electorate, despite it being home to more than 160,000 people, and the average out of pocket cost for a GP appointment has risen to $40.89.

The Greens plan also includes support for the trainee GP workforce to ensure they receive equal pay to their hospital trainee counterparts.

Mr Bandt said the plan would be fully funded by forcing big corporations to pay their fair share of tax.