As we begin a new year, I want to acknowledge that 2024 was tough for many people in our community.
Cost of living pressures have lingered longer than anyone wanted or anticipated, largely thanks to overseas conflicts and a global spike in inflation.
Twelve months ago, I wrote in the Newcastle Herald about the Albanese Government’s commitment to supporting Australians struggling with the cost of living being our number one priority in 2024.
I am really proud of the sensible measures we implemented, including a tax cut for all Australians, cheaper medicines, and a pay rise for millions of workers.
But, there is plenty more to do.
One of the biggest challenges people in our region face is access to affordable healthcare.
Unfortunately this is an issue that can’t be fixed overnight.
Labor was elected after almost a decade of cuts and neglect from Liberal Governments, during which Peter Dutton was voted by Australian doctors as the worst Health Minister in Medicare history.
When in government, Mr Dutton started a six-year freeze to Medicare rebates which reduced bulk billing rates, and he cut $50 billion from hospital funding.
He also tried to introduce a tax to see your GP and privatise health services.
Locally, the Coalition threatened the future of and slashed funding for our crucial GP Access After Hours service and banned doctors from practicing in our area if they had received their training overseas or through a scholarship.
This ludicrous decision led to a GP shortage in our community.
One local practice told me that they lost half of their doctors as a result of this policy change.
While there’s undeniably more work to do, I am really proud of the Albanese Government’s progress to address these issues.
One of the biggest election commitments I and my fellow Federal Hunter Labor colleagues have delivered was winning $28 million in funding for GP Access After Hours, saving the service and cementing its future.
We also reversed the ban preventing overseas trained and Commonwealth bonded doctors from practicing in our area, and we’ve streamlined recognition of GPs’ qualifications from countries similar to us including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Local medical practices have told me these initiatives have helped them start to recruit more GPs.
Under the Albanese Government, we’ve seen more doctors register to practise in the Australian health system over the last two years than at any time in the past decade, and we’re seeing an increase in the number of junior doctors choosing to go into general practice.
We’re also providing $180 million this financial year to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine to support more than 5000 GPs in training.
On top of this, we’ve stopped the free-fall in bulk billing that we inherited by making the largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare history, and raising Medicare rebates by more in two years than the Coalition did in their entire nine years.
These changes are making a real difference to millions of Australians, but we know there’s more to do to keep strengthening Medicare.
The other huge commitment the Federal Labor Government has delivered is opening more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including the new one at Charlestown.
The Charlestown clinic is open seven days a week from 8am-8pm and provides free, walk-in care for patients with urgent, but non-life-threatening health conditions like minor cuts, burns, and sprains.
You don’t need to make an appointment, and all you need is your Medicare card.
I’ve seen how popular these clinics have been at Cessnock and Lake Haven and how they’ve eased pressure on hospitals in those areas, so I am delighted one is now open to service Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
When it comes to affordable and accessible healthcare in our region, I am proud of the progress that’s been made under the Albanese Government.