Labor Pledges Urgent Care Clinic

Mackay locals will get the free urgent care they need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department, if the Albanese Labor Government is re-elected.

Labor has said it will open a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay as part of a $644 million commitment to open another 50 Urgent Care Clinics, with more clinics in every state and territory.

This announcement from the Labor party has been made alongside Queensland Labor announcing that Neil Wallace will contest the seat of Dawson in the upcoming Federal Election.

Neil and his wife have called the Mackay region home for nearly two decades, raising their three children in the local community.

Neil’s strong record of community service, including as a three-time President of the North Mackay Rotary Club make him the perfect person to take up the fight and "stop Dawson being taken for granted by the LNP".

If Labor is re-elected, the party has pledged that the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay will begin operating in the 2025-26 financial year, providing bulk billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week, for extended hours, and with no appointment needed.

The Urgent Care Clinic will take pressure off the Mackay Base Hospital, which saw 15,121 non-urgent and semi-urgent presentations in 2023-24.

All you will need is your Medicare card, not your credit card.

Labor says it went to the last election promising to open 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

"And we have delivered 87 clinics," a Labor statement said.

"More than 1.2 million Australians have already been treated at one of Labor’s existing 87 Urgent Care Clinics.

"Doctors have embraced the clinics, with a survey finding 7 in 10 GPs support Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and 8 in 10 GPs say they have a positive impact on hospital emergency departments."

Labor Candidate for Dawson, Neil Wallace, said he is proud to be Labor’s new candidate in Dawson and to continue the Albanese Labor Government’s fight to strengthen Medicare, take action on cost of living and keep building Australia’s future.

“At this election Australia faces a choice: a stronger Medicare with more bulk billing for all Australians under Labor, or more cuts to Medicare under Peter Dutton's LNP," he said.

“Only Labor will deliver a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mackay so you can get the free urgent care you need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department."

Around 2 million Australians are expected to make use of an Urgent Care Clinic each year, getting the free urgent care they need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department.

This extends Labor’s election commitment to strengthening Medicare, with the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago.

“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open seven days, for extended hours, and take pressure off the Mackay Base Hospital," Mr Wallace added.

“Under Labor, inflation is down, wages are up, unemployment is low and now interest rates have started to come down too – but we know there’s more work to do."

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Neil Wallace: Labor’s candidate for Dawson, committed to strengthening Medicare and supporting the local community. Photo supplied

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