Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I notice that the member for Dickson is interjecting. He might be interested to raise his objections to the GP superclinic with two of his constituents, Lisa and Olivia Graham, who gave the superclinic the thumbs up in the Northern Times, one of the local papers. After having called five medical centres, the only place that was open and willing to treat Olivia, after she injured herself on Sunday, was the Strathpine superclinic. Mrs Graham says that, without the superclinic:

… we would have sat for hours in emergency …

In the same article, superclinic director, Dr Evan Jones said that each weekend the clinic is:

… treating 120-130 patients who otherwise are likely to have turned up at emergency wards.

This passes the common-sense test in the community—that, when 60 per cent of Australians are finding it hard to access a GP after hours, these sorts of services can provide more support.

See this speech in context