The Australian Government is delivering affordable health care for the Launceston and northern Tasmania community with more bulk billing and cheaper medicines helping to ease cost of living pressures.
Since the government's historic investment to strengthen Medicare, the rate of GP services bulk billed in Launceston has reached 79.9 per cent, up from 69 per cent in October 2023, when our bulk billing investments started.
Since opening in 2023, the Launceston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has seen over 61,000 visits, helping the local community access urgent care, when and where they need it. The Clinic has also had its hours extended, so it is now open 7 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week.
Now here to stay, the network of eight Medicare Urgent Care clinics across rural and regional Tasmania have seen over 190,000 visits to date.
The people of Launceston have also saved almost $13 million on 2.2 million prescriptions, with the government's cheaper medicines reforms:
- 60-day prescriptions
- cutting the maximum price of PBS medicines to $25
- freezing the price to $7.70 for concession cardholders for the rest of the decade.
Labor is also helping the local community access mental health support, through The Launceston Medicare Mental Health Centre.
This year, 20 students started training in primary care and general practice at the University of Tasmania's Launceston campus, through our investment in Commonwealth Supported Places.
This is in addition to almost $4 million investment into Rural Generalist Coordination Units in Tasmania, helping junior doctors move into a career as a general practitioner.
The Albanese Government is supporting public hospitals in Tasmania with an additional $705 million, bringing the total investment to $5.1 billion.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Jess Teesdale is delivering on her election commitments to her community."
"Labor's investments mean more Launceston residents are being bulk billed, there is more urgent care, and there are more doctors."
"Our investments ensure more Tasmanians only need their Medicare card, not their credit card."
Quotes attributable to Jess Teesdale, Member for Bass:
"The Albanese Labor Government is strengthening healthcare in Bass, delivering more bulk billing, investing in our hospitals and extending the opening hours of the Launceston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to better serve our community."
From 1 July, the Launceston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic extended its opening hours from 7am till 9pm, making it even easier for local people to access free urgent care close to home when they need it."
"I'm proud to be part of a government that is strengthening Medicare and delivering better health outcomes for Northern Tasmania."
