Pat Conroy
Shortland · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“There's something difficult about standing in this chamber today. For more than a decade, Nick helped write many of the speeches I've delivered in this parliament. He had a gift for finding the right words and understood the values that should guide everything we do in public life.”
“That means ensuring that Defence has the structures, the focus and the resources to deliver the right capability projects on time, on scope and on budget.”
“We've got committees that are meeting for hours on end without actually making any decisions, so things have to change because these projects matter. We're talking about multibillion-dollar capability projects integral to the defence of our nation and to peace and stability in our region. Let me be crystal clear.”
“He joined the Labor Party as a teenager in 2000 and, from that point on, remained a committed and active participant in our movement. I first came to know Nick through our work with Greg Combet. From the beginning, he combined sharp political instincts with a genuine commitment to improving people's lives.”
“Whether helping a constituent navigate government services, advocating for local projects or developing policy solutions, Nick approached every task with intelligence, empathy and determination. Beyond his professional achievements, Nick's greatest contribution was to the Labor movement itself.”
“I thank the member for Makin of the state of South Australia for his question. Since 2022, the Albanese government has undertaken the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia's history.”
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“These clinics have quickly become some of the busiest in New South Wales, demonstrating just how vital they are to our community. Because of their success, we're delivering more resources to help them meet growing demand, so more people can get the care they need, when they need it, and for free. This is great news for local families, providing faster and more accessible care for our region. When I'm out in the community, I hear time and time again how much people value these services, so I'd like to thank the dedicated staff who work in these clinics. Your care and commitment are making a real difference every day, as is the care and commitment of every single person in the health sector in Shortland. Now we're working to deliver expanded mental health support, because my community told me that's what they need next.”
“We're cutting red tape and fast-tracking the qualifications of 6,000 tradies to get it done. We've backed renters with more rights and more assistance, and now we're making the dream of homeownership achievable again. We're not ignoring the housing crisis; we're tackling it head-on. My constituents also told me how important Medicare is to our community, and I'm so proud that we're strengthening and protecting it. We tripled the bulk-billing incentive, making it easier to see a GP—especially for kids, pensioners and concession card holders. We all know how important it is to get medical care when you need it without spending hours waiting in a hospital emergency room. That's why we've opened urgent care clinics in Lake Haven and Charlestown.”
“We're tackling the housing crisis with our $43 billion Homes for Australia plan, making it easier to buy and better to rent and building more homes. We're delivering up to 100,000 homes just for first home buyers, with no competition from investors, and we're making sure they're built near jobs, families and the community. From 2026, every first home buyer can access a government backed five per cent deposit, with no income caps and no limits on how much you can earn to be eligible. Our Help to Buy scheme will make it easier to buy your first home by cutting the size of your mortgage, with the government covering up to 40 per cent of the upfront costs. We are also speeding up construction with prefab and modular homes, which will fast-track building times.”
“We know education changes people's lives, and that's why Labor has made it easier to learn, train and grow. I've heard from students and their parents that crushing HECS debts were stopping young people from buying houses and getting ahead. That's why we cut 20 per cent off HECS debt, why we introduced free TAFE and why, for the first time ever, eligible student nurses, teachers, social workers and midwives are getting paid for their prac placements—as they should. This is not just good policy; it's common sense. Because, if we want a strong future, we need to invest in the people building it. We know housing has become a major stressor for far too many people in Shortland and across Australia—renters, first home buyers and people trying to get a roof over their heads. That's why Labor is delivering.”
“The Albanese Labor government believes in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, and that's why we've backed minimum wage increases. If you're getting a pay slip soon, minimum wages are now 3.5 per cent higher. We didn't just promise more jobs; we delivered better jobs with better pay and better conditions. That's why we're supporting apprentices in dealing with cost-of-living pressures while ensuring Australia has the workforce it needs to build 1.2 million homes over five years. We're paying housing construction apprentice tradies $10,000 in incentives, because we're building the workforce Australia needs for the future, and we're giving Australians real pathways into meaningful careers. That's what my community wants, and that's Labor's way—lifting people up, not leaving them behind.”
“They told me they were feeling the squeeze. That's why we're delivering real cost-of-living relief. We gave millions of households more direct energy bill belief, and there's another $150 off electricity bills to come. We've introduced cheaper child care and rolled out free TAFE, and now we're cutting the costs of medicines even further, cutting the price of PBS prescriptions to just $25, the lowest it's been since 2004. Meanwhile, pensioners and concession card holders will keep saving money thanks to the price freeze on PBS medicines, which will stay at just $7.70 until 2030. We'll continue to protect our PBS. That's how we help families, workers and pensioners right now—with practical support that makes a difference every day. During the campaign, young people told me they were struggling.”
“These projects may not make national headlines, but they matter deeply to our community and to the players, families and volunteers who use these spaces every week. I'm also proud of the $90,000 in funding we've committed for the expansion of the Vedic Samiti Temple in Cardiff South. This will help deliver a new, all-weather dining space for our growing local Hindu community, making it easier to come together, celebrate and connect. Across Shortland and across Australia, people voted for a better future, for fairness, for stability and for a government that backs everyday Australians, not just the big end of town. That's what Labor stands for, that's what I stand for and that's what we'll keep delivering. When I was out and about in my community, my constituents told me they wanted help with the cost of living.”
“We've also committed funding to support important community upgrades across Shortland. There is $4.6 million to deliver the second state upgrade of Belmont Sporting Complex, $130,000 to fix the steps of Charlestown Netball Courts, $220,000 to address Windale rugby league club's drainage issues at Hunter Barnett Oval, $420,000 to upgrade the lighting at John Balcomb Oval, home of the Dudley Magpies, $275,000 to install new floodlighting at Lisle Carr Oval in Whitebridge, $275,000 to upgrade the lighting at Cardiff Netball Courts, $275,000 to install floodlighting at Jack Edwards Oval in Argenton, $325,000 to fix longstanding flooding issues at Slade Park and $35,000 for new fencing at Halekulani Oval, home of the Budgewoi Bulldogs.”
“One example I'm especially proud of is our support for an amazing local organisation, Survivor's R Us. Survivor's R Us helps people dealing with domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment, some of the hardest things anyone can go through. They told us they needed a permanent space so they could keep doing their vital work. We listened, and now we deliver. A commitment by the Albanese Labor government of $2.8 million will help them buy a permanent site. This will give them the security they need to continue helping our community for many years to come. That's what good government looks like: backing local organisations, supporting people doing work on the ground and making a real change in people's lives. Everyone deserves safety, dignity and opportunity to rebuild. But our work doesn't stop there.”
“Let me start by saying this: representing the people of Shortland is the greatest honour of my life. I'm incredibly thankful to my community for putting their trust in me once again. I won't take it for granted. I promise to keep working hard every single day to deliver for you and for our region. The result of the 2025 election sent a strong message across the country: Australians want a government that listens, that delivers and that puts people first. I'm proud to stand here and say that's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing and will keep doing. Throughout the campaign, my team and I spoke with thousands of people across our community. We doorknocked, we phone-called, we held street stalls, eager to hear what mattered most to people. We listened, we made commitments and now we're delivering.”
“The Albanese government is getting on with the job of keeping Australians safe and delivering a defence future made in Australia, delivering more well-paid jobs for Australians, while those over there can't be trusted with defence or national security. (Time expired)”
“Let me repeat that: four times as many warships and the first five years earlier than the plan of those opposite when they were in power. I'm asked about a wasted decade. Our record on defence capability stands in stark contrast to the coalition. Under us, we'll have the largest surface combatant fleet since World War II. Under them, they delivered the oldest fleet the Navy has had in the history of the Navy. Under us, we're creating tens of thousands of jobs as part of continuous naval shipbuilding. Under them, they closed two shipyards in Australia, costing thousands of jobs in Melbourne and the Hunter.”
“And I'm proud to say it will support over 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled jobs in WA and thousands more across Australia as Aussie businesses build these next-generation stealth frigates. This truly is delivering a future made in Australia. This decision was made months ahead of schedule and is an example of how we're accelerating critical defence capability projects to keep Australians safe, just like how we accelerated $1.3 billion in counter-drone capabilities to protect our troops and bases, a capability those opposite ignored when they were in power. We'll sign the frigate contract early next year, the first frigate will be delivered in 2029 and we'll have four frigates by 2034. That's four times as many frigates as the former coalition government planned and with the first new frigate delivered five years earlier.”
“I thank the member for his question and applaud his commitment to Aussie manufacturing. The Albanese government has selected Mogami class as the preferred platform for our general-purpose frigates for the Navy. This frigate decision is the biggest capability decision made by this government since announcing the Optimal Pathway for our submarines. It delivers on our plan to double the surface combatant fleet, giving the Navy much greater firepower. It's a plan backed by the Albanese government's $55 billion investment over the decade to deliver more ships more quickly. It's a plan to build eight of these next-generation stealth frigates right here in Australia, and it's supported by tens of billions of dollars of investment that we will make in Western Australia as part of our commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding.”
“I also applaud the member for Kennedy's long leadership on this issue. He's fighting very hard for his community, as is the Keep Our Copper delegation. As the Prime Minister said, Minister Ayres is engaging with the state government and Glencore about this issue. As the PM has said—let's be clear—Glencore is a highly profitable company that has done very well out of Australia, and it's time for Glencore to be good to Australia. It's also important that Australian gas has to be available and affordable for all Australians, and that's why we've launched a review into the mechanisms involved there. This follows our work on capping coal and gas prices, which those opposite opposed. We'll focus on making gas more affordable for manufacturers so that Mount Isa has a strong future into the next few decades.”
“The truth is the coalition had a chance to fix these issues, but they left us with a graveyard of discarded energy policies; by my last count there were 23. We're getting on with fixing the job by taking a considered approach, and Minister Ayres, in the other place, is working very hard at this. We've put aside funding for smelters, we've put aside funding for the green iron fund and we've put aside $2 billion for aluminium, to help with their energy transition. There's more to do, but the truth is we're not going to cop attacks from the other side, who sat on their hands for nine long years and did nothing about it.”
“I thank the member for his question, which is about the future of manufacturing in this country—in particular, the future of smelters. As we've said in this place many times, the sustainability of our domestic minerals and metals processing capability is vital to our national interest, and that's why we're backing jobs, backing manufacturing and backing heavy industry. The member also talked about energy. Obviously, energy is a critical part of the mix, and that's why we're investing record amounts in renewing our energy grid, backing renewable energy—which is the cheapest form of new energy—as well as improving reliability. I stood with the Prime Minister and other ministers when we backed Aussie industry with new investment in energy.”
“That might be short-term support, longer-term help or a referral to other local services. This is part of our broader commitment to strengthen Medicare and invest in the health of every Australian, because mental health is health. We're not just talking about better mental health care; we're delivering it. The centre can also help connect locals with other services to provide support over the long term, like housing or help finding a job. These centres are built to look at the whole picture and make sure people have the right support to move forward. We want fewer people falling through the cracks, less pressure on our hospitals and more lives changed for the better. That's what good government does. It acts, and it delivers real outcomes for real people. Under Labor, that's exactly what we'll continue to do.”
“This centre will be open to everyone—no referral, no appointment and no out-of-pocket cost. Just walk in and get the help you need, because mental health care shouldn't be a luxury. It should be accessible, affordable and local, not just for people in the big cities but for people in the regions too. These centres will relieve pressure on families and the broader health system by providing a one-stop hub for support. They'll be staffed by mental health nurses, psychologists, peer support workers and other allied health professionals, working together to deliver tailored, expert care. Whether someone is in crisis or simply in need of someone to talk to, they'll find a team ready to respond quickly, compassionately and effectively. People will be assessed onsite and connected to the right evidence based care.”
“Mental health is something that touches every family, every workplace, every school and every part of our community. It's something we need to talk about openly, honestly and locally. In my electorate of Shortland, covering parts of Lake Macquarie in the Central Coast, I've seen firsthand the struggles that people face, whether it's a young person battling anxiety, a parent under pressure, someone doing it tough financially or an older Australian feeling isolated. There are real challenges faced by real people in our community. So, when my community told me they needed better mental health support, I took that seriously. That's why the Albanese Labor government is delivering a free Medicare mental health centre in Shortland—so people can get the help they need when they need it, close to home.”
“Let us be clear that safeguarding banking services and the financial system is all about underpinning greater economic resilience and security in our region. We're committed to listening to and working together with our Pacific neighbours on issues that matter to us both. This bill is a clear demonstration of our commitment to do this. I commend the bill to the House.”
“This includes helping to build digital identity infrastructure in seven Pacific jurisdictions; building the capacity of financial intelligence units so Pacific governments can respond to money laundering and terrorism financing risks; trying to find ways to address the lack of scale in Pacific countries' financial markets—we're doing this in partnership with the World Bank; I met with the deputy head of the World Bank yesterday to discuss this important project—and supporting secure and affordable channels for Pacific workers to remit money, which is something we're doing with New Zealand and the European Union. I'm pleased to be part of a government progressing this important piece of legislation. We must ensure that Australia remains the partner of choice for the Pacific.”
“The guarantee is a responsible and low-risk way to secure ANZ's long-term commitment to the Pacific. Supporting the Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025 is how members in this House can advance our national interest. A secure, stable and inclusive financial system in the Pacific is not just beneficial to the region; it is in Australia's national interest. We're also doing our part to address the structural factors that are leading banks to exit the Pacific.”
“I remember meeting the regional ANZ manager in the Solomon Islands, where he briefed me about how, during the COVID period, they reduced their fees for admittances because they knew there were thousands of Solomon Islander workers stuck in Australia, trying to send money back to sustain their families, when the region was devastated by the economic impact of COVID. The guarantee contained in this bill will support meaningful access to face-to-face banking services. It will also support enhancements to ANZ's banking services, including its digital banking services. ANZ will continue to support access to international money transfers and correspondent banking services, and will also support Pacific countries through infrastructure financing in line with the bank's credit risk policies.”
“A financially stable Pacific benefits Australia, and I thank the Commonwealth Bank of Australia for providing banking services to Nauru in our national interest. This is a critical part of the Nauru-Australia Treaty. Under that treaty, Australia committed to ensuring that Nauru will not be left without a bank when the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank departs this year. The treaty also reflects our shared commitment to security that is led by the Pacific family, which is in our deep national interest. I also acknowledge ANZ's commitment to remaining in eight Pacific markets and Timor-Leste. ANZ has been in the Pacific for 140 years, playing an incredibly important role.”
“Their presence in the Pacific ensures that our neighbours can stay connected to the global financial system and experience secure, reliable and high-quality services. I've directly engaged with Pacific leaders and Australian bank executives to find ways to ensure that we have an enduring banking presence in the region. Australian banks' Pacific operations are lauded for maintaining high standards of service quality and high rates of regulatory compliance, helping to thwart financial crime. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Economic instability creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by transnational criminals and other bad actors. Ensuring that the Pacific has a robust financial system mitigates financial crime risks and supports economic resilience.”
“We all want to live in a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous—a region where our partnerships are grounded in respect, including respect for sovereignty. We're committed to doing our part to contribute to this vision. For over 140 years, Australian banks have been a partner to the Pacific region. Today, three Pacific nations use the Australian dollar as their national currency, underscoring our economic interdependence. In fact, the Foreign minister of Nauru reminded me about how generous they are to let us use their currency in Australia! But banks are not just financial intermediaries; they are symbols of our commitment to the region. They are a key to stronger trading and investment relationships between us and our Pacific neighbours.”
“It helps pay for food and other essentials. It pays for education and medicine and is even used to start small businesses, contributing to economic growth and job creation. Importantly, it's also dealing with gender equality and the divide that we see in many nations around the Pacific. Banking services are essential in supporting remittances and funds transfers through people, organisations, businesses and nations. Australia and our Pacific partners want to avoid the situation where Pacific nations are debanked and lose access to timely and affordable cross-border payments and banking services. This is not about any individual country; this is about enhancing our cooperation with our Pacific island neighbours. This is about listening to their needs and working together on solutions.”
“They enable workers to send money home to support their families and communities. For example, we've seen for many years how significant remittances can be. Under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, workers from the Pacific contribute to Australia by filling labour gaps in regional and rural areas and specific industries. Right now, over 30,000 PALM workers are filling those labour gaps, and, again, on behalf of the government, I want to say how grateful I am to them, their families and their countries for assisting the Australian economy. At the same time, those workers are sending, on average, $1,500 per month to their families and communities back home. I've visited many communities in the Pacific and Timor-Leste, and I've seen firsthand how this income directly alleviates poverty in local communities.”
“The Pacific, unfortunately, has experienced the fastest withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships anywhere in the world. Just as the Pacific suffers the worst consequences of climate change, its businesses, workers and people are being disproportionately affected by bearing the cost of debanking. Secure access to the global financial system and banking services is critical for economic growth, financial inclusion and overall stability. That's a statement of the bleeding obvious, but it's very important. At a national level, banking services mean government and businesses can engage in international trade, progress projects for infrastructure and essential services, and maintain and grow their economies. At a local level, banking services allow people to start up a new business and to maintain and grow their existing businesses.”
“The first ballot for that PEV had 56,000 applications for only 3,000 spots, demonstrating the strong support throughout the Pacific for this important scheme. Our engagement with the Pacific is underpinned by this government's recognition that climate change is the No. 1 concern of the Pacific. All this has helped us to build transformational relationships—for example, our landmark Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union responds to Tuvalu's position at the frontline of the climate crisis, and recognising this has enabled us to unlock greater security corporation. The Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025, which we're debating right now, is part of our commitment to our Pacific neighbours. The Albanese government places a high priority on ensuring that the Pacific and Timor-Leste remain connected to the global financial system.”
“A love of sport is a connection we share with the Pacific, and we're building sports cooperation, whether it's rugby league with PNG; soccer with Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; netball throughout the Pacific; or rugby union with Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. Sport is bringing our countries closer together. We're committed to growing and strengthening the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme so it delivers on the region's ambitions for more skills and opportunities. This includes expanding opportunities for the Pacific and Timor-Leste and embedding a skills dividend in the scheme by helping fill vital worker shortages in regional and rural Australia. And we've created the first ever Pacific permanent migration pathway through the Pacific engagement visa, responding to a longstanding request from our Pacific partners.”
“Most recently, we worked to support Vanuatu after its earthquake on 17 December last year, getting rescue and humanitarian teams on the ground within 24 hours of Vanuatu's request. And we shouldn't forget that, when Australia was hit by the terrible bushfires of 2019-20, Fiji sent 54 of its soldiers to help our emergency responses. I will always be grateful for that. Our investments have helped ensure every Pacific Islands Forum country will have an undersea telecommunication cable by the end of 2025, to bolster economic growth. I met with Prime Minister Teo, of Tuvalu, yesterday to discuss their recent connection, and we're building people-to-people links.”
“That is why it's been so important that there has been such a transformational change in Australia's approach to the Pacific since we were elected in 2022. We've signed landmark treaties with Tuvalu and Nauru, creating a safer region and advancing our position as a security partner of choice. We've strengthened cooperation with Papua New Guinea through our bilateral security agreement and our landmark national rugby league deal. These are both underpinned by strategic trust. We're also getting our relationship with the Solomon Islands on a better footing by building its police force. This confirms our position as their security partner of choice. We're also building a proud track record in assisting one another after natural disasters.”
“The Pacific is our home. It is in our interest to foster a resilient, connected region that enables all our economies to grow and our people to prosper. The Albanese government has brought new energy and ambition to revitalise our Pacific partnership after a decade of neglect. We're using all tools of statecraft, security cooperation, development cooperation and people-to-people links to do this. We're also supporting the services that underpin economic growth, such as banking, aviation and critical infrastructure. The Pacific looks to us first for support. That is what good neighbours do. We're also facing a more uncertain international environment and we are in a permanent contest in the Pacific; both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have repeated that many times.”
“Last year the Clean Energy Finance Corporation committed $4.7 billion to that decarbonisation agenda. The member, in her question, talked about leveraging private-sector investment in this transition, and I'm delighted to inform the member that the CEFC has been leveraging $4.14 of private-sector capital for every dollar of public-sector investment. So that $4 billion unlocked $25.7 billion of total investment and supported over 4,000 jobs. ARENA has also been really successful at leveraging private-sector capital.”
“This is only one part of this government's commitment to seizing the opportunities of the global race to net zero, and I talked about a few of those yesterday. They include production tax credits for critical minerals and renewable hydrogen; $2 billion to transition the Australian aluminium smelters to renewable energy; and $1 billion in the Green Iron Investment Fund. This Green Iron Investment Fund is critical for decarbonising Australia but also for decarbonising the world. It was also a feature of the Prime Minister's trip to China. This will complement what the National Reconstruction Fund is doing and the investments it is making. Other complements of the National Reconstruction Fund include the Clean Energy Finance Corporation's investments.”
“I thank the member for her question and her strong commitment to seizing the opportunities from the transition that are available to us. The National Reconstruction Fund is one part of our plan for a future made in Australia especially focused on seizing the opportunities from that transition. I'm delighted to inform the House that, since it was established less than two years ago, it has made nine investments, worth over $430 million. It's investing in innovative technologies and local manufacturing which will help the transition. For example, the NRF has invested $200 million in Arafura Rare Earths Ltd. This will deliver the rare earth minerals essential for renewables and the energy grid of the future. These investments will ramp up over time, but, as I said, the fund was established less than two years ago.”
“The Albanese government understands that the world is changing, and that's why we're taking action. We recognise the opportunities that are in front of us and are committed to seizing the future to support high-growth cutting edge industries. Sadly, that support is not bipartisan. This week we saw the coalition's climate change clown show back in town. Speaking of one of them—”
“We've got copper, zinc, bauxite and cobalt, and we've got lithium in abundance. We're great at mining these resources, but the Australian people demand more. They want us to value add to them where possible and create well-paid highly skilled manufacturing industries, and the Albanese Labor government is backing this vision with our transformational policy agenda: the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, production tax credits for renewable hydrogen and critical minerals, $2 billion for Australia's aluminium smelters and $1 billion for the Green Iron Investment Fund. Green iron is the foundation for the future for the global iron trade, and it's a generational opportunity to make Australia more prosperous, thereby reducing global emissions. It was a key priority for Prime Minister Albanese's visit to China.”
“I thank the member for Lingiari for her question and congratulate her on being the first Aboriginal person to sit in the Speaker's chair this week. Well done. Creating jobs and industries that support them is one of the golden threads that run through the history of the Australian Labor Party. From Curtin and Chifley's full employment and creation of the car industry to the Hawke economic reforms and the Button industry plan to Prime Minister Albanese's vision for a future made in Australia, it's all about creating jobs and supporting families. That's why we're committed to seizing the opportunities from the global move to net zero. We know the best renewable energy resources are in Australia. Nearly every critical mineral needed to power the clean energy economy of the 21st century resides in Australia.”
“I intend to spend most of my time on the substance of the Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025, but I can't let the contribution from the member for Petrie go unchallenged. It was a massive rewriting of history from a person clearly reading notes provided by another minister's office. I would submit to you, Deputy Speaker Georganas, that the member for Petrie couldn't find Papua New Guinea on a map, quite frankly, and that contribution in this debate demonstrates that. Let's go through some facts here—”
“The feedback on this clinic from my community has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's already seen over 2½ thousand patients since late November. It's so popular that we're expanding its hours to 10 pm permanently from late February. When it comes to affordable and accessible health care in the Hunter and Central Coast, I'm proud of the progress that has been made under the Albanese government, but this is all at threat if the Liberals return to power. They've promised to cut almost $350 billion in government spending to pay for their $600 billion nuclear fantasy, which includes the Medicare and urgent care clinics. To the people of Shortland, let's be clear, if Peter Dutton is elected, those Medicare urgent care clinics are gone. They're abolished—a loss of vital services for our community.”
“More medical practitioners have registered to practice in the Australian health system over the last two years than at any time over the last decade, and the number of junior doctors choosing to go into general practice is growing. We've tripled the bulk-billing incentive, which has stopped the freefall in our bulk-billing rates. Despite strong opposition from the Liberal Party, we've also opened Medicare urgent care clinics, including one at Lake Haven and, most recently, one at Charlestown. The Charlestown Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is open seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm and provides free walk-in care for patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions like minor cuts, burns, sprains and broken bones.”
“The coalition slashed funding for the Hunter's much loved and crucial GP after-hours services at Belmont Hospital and John Hunter Hospital, forcing more patients into already overstretched emergency departments. They also banned overseas trained doctors and Australian doctors who studied on a government scholarship from practising in Lake Macquarie and on the Central Coast. All this can't be fixed overnight, but the Albanese government has made important progress addressing the local health crisis over the last few years. We've restored $28 million in funding for GP access after hours, saving the service and cementing its future. We've reversed the ban preventing overseas trained and Commonwealth bonded doctors from practising in our area.”
“I'm pleased to provide an update on how the Albanese government is improving the health outcomes of people in my community. One of the biggest challenges people in my region face, which is linked to cost of living, is access to affordable health care. Labor was elected after almost a decade of cuts and neglect from Liberal governments, when the opposition leader was voted by Australian doctors themselves as the worst health minister in 40 years. When in government, the opposition leader froze Medicare rebates for six years, which reduced bulk-billing rates, and he tried to cut $50 billion from hospital funding. He also tried to introduce a tax to see your GP and cut Medicare funding.”