Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is strengthening Medicare and saving people in my community of Chisholm millions of dollars through cheaper medicines and free bulk billed visits to the GP. People in Chisholm have saved more than $2.68 million on their scripts thanks to our government's cheaper medicines policy. Chisholm is the No. 1 electorate in Victoria and the No. 2 electorate in the nation for 60-day dispensing. That means more than 84,000 60-day scripts have been filled in Chisholm. This is delivering real cost-of-living relief for people in my community.

In addition, we're opening a further 29 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. This will bring the total number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics up to 87. This means that there will be more locations for people to walk in, seven days a week and over extended hours, and get the free, urgent care they need without waiting hours in busy hospital emergency departments.

Our government is committed to listing new, life-changing medicines on the PBS to ensure all Australians have early and safe access to the medications that they need. Labor is the party of Medicare. We created Medicare and bulk-billing, and we will always work to strengthen it