50 new urgent care clinics are on the cards. But are the existing ones working? Here’s what we know so far
- The Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, plans to allocate $644 million to open an additional 50 urgent care clinics if re-elected in the 2025/2026 financial year.
- Labor aims to expand access to urgent care, stating that most Australians will live within a 20-minute drive of a bulk-billed clinic once all clinics are open.
- Labor has already established 87 Medicare urgent care clinics that provide free care for non-life-threatening issues.
24 Articles
24 Articles
50 new urgent care clinics are on the cards. But are the existing ones working? Here’s what we know so far
Over the weekend the Australian government announced A$644 million to build an extra 50 Medicare urgent care clinics around Australia. This is on top of nearly $600 million previously committed to establish 87 clinics. Once these 50 new clinics open in the 2025–26 financial year, the government says four in five Australians will live within a 20 minute drive to a clinic. While this seems like a worthy pursuit, the question is whether they are wo…
Political attacks fly over Medicare urgent care clinics as election looms
Allegations of pork-barrelling have been thrown around by both major parties - around the rollout of Medicare urgent care clinics. Lines of attack on healthcare noticeably hardening today, with the prospect of an election called this week.
Labor Promises Nearly $650 Million for 50 More Medicare Clinics If Re-Elected
Labor has promised to open 50 more bulk billing urgent care clinics by the end of June 2026 if it secures a second term. Costing $644 million (US$400 million), this plan aims to deliver extra clinics in every jurisdiction. Labor has released a list of target areas, but the final sites would be decided independently. The additional clinics would mean around 80 percent of Australians live within a 20 minute drive of a bulk billing urgent care clin…
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