The Coalition strongly supports Australians having additional access to timely healthcare support through telehealth and Australia’s hardworking nurse workforce – Particularly at a time when it has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor.
Whilst we support today’s announcement and the much-needed access across all states for after hours support for telehealth, it is misleading for the Prime Minister to claim this is a new measure - this is a rebadging of the existing Health Direct service.
Since Labor has been in power, they have only sent access to critical health support through telehealth backwards.
One of Anthony Albanese’s first acts was to cut more than 70 telehealth items from Medicare, including complex specialist consultations and GP consultations longer than 20 minutes.
This is further evidence of Labor’s failure to deliver affordable and accessible health services for all Australians.
Health has become another victim of Labor’s cost of living crisis. More than 1.5 million Australians could not afford to see a doctor last year under Labor, as bulk billing has collapsed by 11% and out-of-pocket costs have reached the highest level on record.
The Coalition is proud to have made telehealth universal and permanent— the single biggest reform to Medicare in recent history.
This reform was especially important for Australians living in regional, rural and remote Australia.
We delivered more than 100 million telehealth services, benefiting over 17 million Australians.
The Prime Minister should stop playing political games and focus on Australians health.
Across the country, Australians were bulk billed 40 million fewer times last year than they were before Labor came to power.
GP bulk billing has fallen 11% under Anthony Albanese, from more than 88% under the Coalition, to 77% right now.
The Coalition has a positive plan to deliver affordable, quality healthcare and increase investment into Medicare.
Our $9.4 billion commitment towards our primary healthcare system is aimed at restoring bulk billing, addressing the health workforce shortage, and ensuring Australians have affordable access to the mental health support they deserve.
Only the Coalition is committed to delivering accessible healthcare for all, no matter where they live.