Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

to take the interjection—to establish urgent care centres across Australia, which we are also doing, and we're working with the states and territories to improve access to after-hours emergency care.

I should point out that we were the only party at the 2022 election to commit to additional investment in Medicare. That's probably not surprising, in the sense that the former government had done everything they could to undermine Medicare over the years, cutting it and capping the indexation rates so that it affected general practice.

Labor is the only party for Medicare. We know that mob over there wanted to end it. We know you want to undermine it. It's the backbone of our healthcare system. It's the foundation that has provided the care that Australians need, deserve and expect. The Australian people expect their government to look at ways to invest in Medicare—not to weaken it, not to cut it, but to look at ways to make it work better for them and put downward costs on the expenses of accessing health care. We know we've got a big challenge ahead. We've got an ageing population, more chronic disease and complex care needs, and the Australian community need and expect Medicare to be there to meet their needs. We can't do this alone. We will work in partnership with the states and territories to make sure the health system meets the needs of the future.

Honourable senators interjecting—