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

I thank Senator Tyrrell for her question and her advocacy around healthcare services in Tasmania. As I updated the chamber this week, there are a total of 48 urgent care clinics which have opened this year. There are 58 that will be open by the end of the year. Rockhampton was the last one that opened. Fifty-one providers have been announced. I'm not sure if it's that clinic, although I'll take your word for it—there are a number where we are working with the providers in the set up where there are reduced hours. But, over time, we are working to ensure that they are open that extended period.

This is a new model of care. It hasn't been done before. In certain areas, whether it relates to workforce or presentations, there have been changes to the hours of operation based on those negotiations with the providers, but the expectation is that those clinics will have extended hours for the period 8 am until 10 pm. The idea is to cover evenings and early mornings. Because many of the providers are actually providing a service—because we partner with GP clinics or something like that—they are open from 8 am or 9 am, but then they close at 5 pm, and we've been looking to extend those hours. There are a few clinics where we are working with providers around the operational hours. It has largely been at providers' request, due to workforce issues. It's certainly not in relation to any commitment or support or funding from the government.