It's terrific to be here at the Urgent Care Clinic in Hobart. There are two Urgent Care Clinics in Hobart. This is the Ochre Health one in Liverpool Street. I was saying to the Prime Minister, who it's terrific to have in Hobart yet again, I think it's the third visit since the election that the Prime Minister's been down to Tassie to be here with the Labor Leader Dean Winter. And importantly of course with Ella Haddad, who's Labor Spokesperson for Health, and the Ochre Health team. This Ochre Health Urgent Care Clinic has been seeing patients since they've opened, around 15,000 patients. I was saying to the Prime Minister that I've actually been to both of Hobart's Urgent Care Clinics with my grandchildren, because of the important role that Urgent Care Clinics are playing in the Hobart community. They played a specific role during the Federal Election. I remember door knocking in Bellerive in my electorate, where I met a 70-year-old man who said to me he was voting Labor because of the Urgent Care Clinics. We know that they're playing an important role in our community, which is why it's so important that we continue, of course, to build on our Urgent Care Clinics. And it's my privilege this morning to introduce Dr Jane Gorman who has been working here at the Ochre Health Urgent Care Clinic, and she's going to talk to you about some of the types of patients and people that she's seeing here at Ochre Health Urgent Care Clinic in Hobart. Jane?
DR JANE GORMAN, OCHRE HEALTH: So, we primarily see people who are sick on the day, who are unable to get in to see their own general practitioner, or who don't have a GP at all. And this would account for probably 30 per cent of the people that we see don't have a general practitioner at all in Tasmania. And so we see minor illnesses like infections, chest infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, minor injuries such as fractures, sprains, and the sick children. And we are also able to do quite complex lacerations here because of the skillset of our doctors. And so this I feel, does reduce the burden on the emergency department because we're able to see people in a timely fashion. They don't get sicker and therefore do not actually need to be seen at the emergency department. Only about 2 per cent of our presentations end up going to the emergency department because we're able to fix them, basically, and get them back into the care of their GP. Thank you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much Jane and thank you to Dr Gorman for what you do here. It is fantastic to be back in another Urgent Care Clinic, one of five we have operating here in Tasmania, but we have 87 right around the country. We promised 50 before I was elected in 2022, because what we understood was that we needed to take pressure off emergency departments and provide access to healthcare for people when they needed it, where they needed it. And all that they would need, of course, is this little bit of green and gold plastic, our Medicare card here. This makes an enormous difference because every single patient who is seen here, all they need is their Medicare card. And that is a big difference between us and the Federal Opposition, who, of course, when the former Leader of the Opposition was Health Minister, tried to abolish bulk billing altogether.
During the election campaign, it's no accident that here in Tasmania in Launceston, I launched the biggest investment in Medicare since Medicare was created - an additional $8.5 billion to ensure that bulk billing could be improved. We know it's been a big issue not just here in Tasmania, but right around the country. And that investment, making sure the tripling of the bulk billing incentive, which has resulted in over 90 per cent of concession card holders benefiting from bulk billing due to the measures that we put in the 2024 Budget, have made an enormous difference. That's why we took that model, announced in early February, that we would extend that tripling of the bulk billing incentive right across to every Australian. That together with the additional 50 Urgent Care Clinics will make an enormous difference.
Now, right around the country, about 1.5 million Australians have benefited from Urgent Care Clinics. In Tasmania alone, the figure is up to almost 100,000. That's 100,000 people, one third of which under the age of 16, who've benefited from getting the care they needed with just their Medicare card. That's 100,000 people less waiting at the emergency department of hospitals, or waiting to try to get in to see a local GP. This is a model that has been incredibly successful, and that Australians voted to not just support, but expand at the recent Federal Election. We look forward to opening more Urgent Care Clinics, not just here in Tasmania, but right around the country, because it will make an enormous difference. And it's great to be here today with Dean and with Ella, and they'll talk about what their plans are to work consistently with the Labor objective, which is Labor will always prioritise healthcare, whether it's Federal or State. And I know that Dean Winter has a plan to do just that.
DEAN WINTER, LEADER OF THE TASMANIAN LABOR PARTY: Thank you everyone. Well, we are so delighted to be here with the Prime Minister today with the inspiration for our TassieDoc policy being the Urgent Care Clinics that have helped so many Tasmanians. Almost 100,000 Tasmanians have been able to get in to see the Urgent Care clinicians they need to see. Almost half of those would've ended up in our hospitals instead. So, that's half, 50,000 people less in the emergency departments than would've otherwise been there. Anthony Albanese's Urgent Care Clinics have taken pressure off our hospitals and Tasmanian Labor, a Tasmania Labor Government that I lead, will create TassieDoc, so that Tasmanians can get in to see a local GP for free in the area they live. This is so important. Our philosophy is to provide more services in the regional towns and suburbs that Tasmanians live in to take pressure off our hospitals. It's been 11 years under the Liberals and I'm convinced that Tasmania needs a fresh start.
It needs change and it needs a Federal Labor and a State Labor Government working together to solve these health challenges that have been plaguing Tasmania for years. Too many Tasmanians tell me they can't get into see a GP when they need it, and that's forcing them into Urgent Care Clinics or into hospitals later on. TassieDoc is the solution to solve these problems. It means that Tasmanians will be able to get in to see a doctor, that they'll be bulk billed close to where they live. We are passionate about solving Tasmania's healthcare problems. They're getting worse under the Liberals. We need a fresh start to fix them.
ELLA HADDAD, TASMANIAN SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH: Thanks Dean, and thank you to the Prime Minister and to Julie for joining us here today. As you've heard, it's in Labor's DNA to provide the healthcare that Tasmanians and Australians need, and far too many Tasmanians are telling us that can't get in to see a GP. That's why we've developed the TassieDoc policy that will provide fully bulk billed, free doctor's appointments in our state-run health clinics around Tasmania. That's going to provide the much-needed healthcare that Tasmanians need close to where they live, and for free, but fully bulk billed. So TassieDoc, our TassieDoc policy, is about partnering with the Federal Government. It's powered by Medicare and the increased investment that the Federal Government has made into Medicare. It will allow Tasmanians to benefit fully from that increased investment from the Federal Government in State run Tasmanian clinics, powered by Medicare and increased all around the state. What TassieDoc will do is make sure that people can get the healthcare that they need, when they need it and where they need it. It'll prevent people from needing to go to the emergency department. Urgent Care Clinics have provided fantastic care for people when they're in urgent need, but what TassieDoc will do is make sure that people can see ongoing GPs in their communities to cater to their long-term health needs.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Ella. We're all happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Why is there a need for TassieDoc when we already have Urgent Care Clinics that people are going to?
WINTER: Well, Urgent Care Clinics are for people in urgent need and they take pressure off our hospitals, but what TassieDoc will do is provide services and bulk billing supports to Tasmanians before they need urgent care. This is for primary healthcare right at the start of their illness or ailment. This means that if you are in a regional town or suburb, you're able to get access to see a local GP that's going to bulk bill. Too many Tasmanians have told me that they don't go and see a doctor because they can't afford it and the new reforms from Prime Minister Albanese mean there's going to be more bulk billing available and a Tasmanian Labor Government working with a Federal Labor Government means that we're going to unlock and unleash that support for additional bulk billing into regional Tasmanian towns in the suburbs.
JOURNALIST: It's traditionally been the remit of the Federal Government to deal with GPs. This is a recognition that the state needs to be more involved?
WINTER: Yes. The Tasmanian State Government, after 11 years of the Liberals, we haven't seen enough action when it comes to primary care and GPs in local communities. We've seen GPs close down across Tasmania. Places like East Devonport, Bridgewater, Risdon Vale have lost their local GP clinics and there hasn't been enough done to support them. That's why we're going to step in. TassieDoc is the solution to this problem. TassieDoc is the solution to this problem. It means that Tasmanians will be able to get in to see a GP and be bulk billed before they need urgent care. This is about a Tasmanian Labor Government working with a Federal Labor Government to make sure Tasmanians get access to the healthcare they need, when they need it.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry is pleading with you to reconsider or at least to consider their February proposal to stop antisemitism in Australia. Will you do that and if not, why not?
PRIME MINISTER: What we're doing is working with the Special Envoy on Antisemitism, and we'll have more to say about that in coming days. I appointed a Special Envoy. That was something that came from the community, that request. Jillian Segal has been doing a terrific job, and over the coming days we'll have more to say there. But of course, we have responded substantially with increased security for synagogues, for Jewish schools, for community organisations. We've responded regularly and I was in touch with Peter Wertheim on Saturday, spoke with him about some of the needs of the community. We'll continue to engage constructively with the community to make sure that they get the support that they need. Antisemitism is a scourge. It has no place in Australia. And what we saw in Melbourne with the attacks that occurred are reprehensible, deserve condemnation and the gentleman concerned at the synagogue has been arrested and he should face the full force of the law.
JOURNALIST: Will you convene a National Cabinet to deal with this issue?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, every time an issue comes up, people say, 'let's have a National Cabinet'. Let's be clear, what people want is not a meeting. They want action. They want action, is what they want.
JOURNALIST: There are some proposals for action, though, in the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's proposal from February including merging the State Police task forces on this issue with the AFP task force, which seems like at least an arguably good idea. Would you consider that idea at least?
PRIME MINISTER: We have a task force and what we do is take on security issues, we take advice from security agencies. That's precisely what we have done.
JOURNALIST: Jewish community leaders say that the $60 million in funding supplied earlier this year for safety improvements is insufficient and they need more CCTV and guards outside places of worship or schools. Is your Government prepared to spend more money?
PRIME MINISTER: Who is saying that?
JOURNALIST: Jewish community leaders.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I spoke with Jewish community leaders on Saturday.
JOURNALIST: So, are you saying they didn't ask for more money?
PRIME MINISTER: I spoke with Jewish community leaders on Saturday. Every time there has been a request, it has been met, expeditiously, and that has occurred. And indeed on Saturday, one of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth Government funding. In addition to that, the reinforcement of the door of the synagogue was done with that Commonwealth security funding. We will respond. We will respond to any request constructively. That is what we have done.
JOURNALIST: We understand that Tasmanian and Liberal leaders have been talking with the Federal Government about the Nyrstar situation. How close are you to finalising that kind of package?
PRIME MINISTER: We are close, because I'm sure that in terms of Nyrstar, it has the support of both the Tasmanian Premier and the Labor Leader. And we want to make sure that Nyrstar gets the support that it needs. It's a matter of the Commonwealth as well as Tasmania and South Australia because of the Port Pirie facility. We have already made available $70 million of funding between Tasmania and the Commonwealth when it comes to support Nyrstar. We have been in regular contact with both. I've spoken with Dean and I've also spoken with Jeremy. This isn't an issue of politics. This is a matter of making sure that we get this done and the Industry Minister will continue to work with whoever is in government in Tasmania, in the interest of Tasmania, so whether it's Nyrstar, or whether it be Bell Bay and all of these facilities, we know that these manufacturing facilities are really important for our national interest, and that's why we're working with the company and with State and Territory Governments as well.
JOURNALIST: It's close? This week, next week? I know the situation's urgent.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is very close to - because there are three governments. The Industry Ministry is coordinating that effort and I would hope that there would be an announcement soon about that. I know that it will enjoy bipartisan support here in Tasmania, so the election should not interfere with any of that.
JOURNALIST: Are you concerned about America putting higher tariffs on allies like Japan and South Korea? Does it weaken our alliances and potentially raise prices here at home?
PRIME MINISTER: No, because we're not increasing tariffs. One of the things that we're doing - tariffs are are a penalty on the country that is imposing them, because what they require is for goods to be purchased with a tax on top. And the US has made that decision. Australia has a tariff rate of 10 per cent, which is at least as low as any country in the world. No country has a better deal than Australia. Now, we'll continue to put our case that tariffs are an act of economic self harm, and that we should be entitled to reciprocal tariffs, which is zero. We'll continue to put that case, but the US Administration has a view that they're engaged with other countries on as well. It varies, the tariff from country to country, but no country has secured an exemption from the US Administration.
JOURNALIST: Has Australia given up on negotiating the tariffs lower than 10 per cent?
PRIME MINISTER: No.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, just on the GST, can you give an undertaking to Tasmanian voters that you will do everything you can and commit to extending the no worse off guarantee which expires at some stage over the forward estimates?
PRIME MINISTER: We've already made the position clear that we've put forward, so we've made that decision consistent with what we've done in government.
JOURNALIST: So can you just remind us?
PRIME MINISTER: We have our position which we've put out there, so it's very clear that there's a no worse off guarantee in place.
JOURNALIST: But it's due to expire. Would you extend it?
PRIME MINISTER: There's a no worse off guarantee in place.
JOURNALIST: So, there's no guarantees that you'll extend?
PRIME MINISTER: Seriously, that's the sort of question that is looking for a story that isn't there. We have a position which is very clear. We continue to provide support for Tasmania, and indeed Tasmania has got additional GST revenue as a result of the measures that we've put in place.
JOURNALIST: With respect, Prime Minister, that has an end date on it.
PRIME MINISTER: We've extended it. I've answered the question.
JOURNALIST: Just back onto antisemitism, Benjamin Netanyahu has weighed in demanding that you take all action to end hate crimes. Do you have any response to what he said?
PRIME MINISTER: No, that's matter for him.
JOURNALIST: The RBA will hand down an interest rate decision later this afternoon. Can mortgage holders bank on a cut?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the RBA is independent and I await the decision, as do other Australians. I'm sure that decision will be handed down at 2.30pm this afternoon.
JOURNALIST: You are reportedly visiting China very soon. What is the focus of that trip and are you open to revisiting the Free Trade Agreement to include AI as the Chinese Ambassador has suggested?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we will determine our policy. Of course, we have a Free Trade Agreement, that was concluded by the Coalition Government when they were in office. What we have done is to get rid of the more than $20 billion of impediments of goods that were stopped from going to China. It's made an enormous difference and we have, indeed, products like wine and barley have not just bounced back, they've bounced back higher than they were before. I look forward to going to Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, which I will visit from Saturday. China's an important trading partner for Australia, 25 per cent of our exports go to China. What that means is jobs, and one of the things that my Government prioritises is jobs. Thanks very much.
JOURNALIST: Are you open to AI being included?
PRIME MINISTER: My priority is jobs. We have a Free Trade Agreement with China. Thanks.
