A re-elected Albanese Labor Government is strengthening Medicare and building Tasmania’s future, today announcing an investment of $10.1 million to deliver a new health hub for Smithton.
There is a very clear choice at this election: Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut everything.
Circular Head Council has worked closely with Labor Candidate for Braddon Anne Urquhart to develop this significant new election commitment. Labor believes that regional Australia, including residents of Smithton, deserve access to quality health care services.
The Smithton Health Hub will support the relocation of OCHRE Health services from the current premises into one that can accommodate a larger, more comprehensive health service.
The new Health Hub will also have facilities for visiting services and allied health professionals so that residents of Smithton and Circular Head can get the quality care they need, closer to home.
Construction on the Smithton Health Hub is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2027.
This builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s work to strengthen Medicare for Tasmanians:
- More bulk billing, with 9 in 10 GP visits to be bulk billed by 2030.
- More doctors and nurses, with the largest GP training program ever.
- More Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania.
- More choice, lower costs, and better health care for women.
- Even cheaper medicines, with a prescription for a PBS medicine to cost no more than $25.
- A new Burnie Health Hub to bring together a wide range of health services.
- A $1 billion investment in free, public mental health care backed by Medicare, including a new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Brighton, a new headspace in Burnie, and a new headspace Plus in Launceston.
This investment is in stark contrast to Peter Dutton, who was voted the worst Health Minister in Medicare history by Australia’s doctors, after he cut $50 billion from public hospitals and tried to end bulk billing with a fee for every GP visit.
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
Quotes attributable to Anne Urquhart, Candidate for Braddon:
“We’re building Tasmania’s future with better health services and stronger Medicare.
“If re-elected, we will invest $10 million to deliver the Smithton Health Hub, so that people in the Circular Heads region get the healthcare they need.
“Only Labor is strengthening Medicare, with the largest ever investment in more than 40 years.
“This means more free trips to the doctor, cheaper medicines and more Urgent Care Clinics – where all you need is your Medicare card not your credit card.”
A re-elected Albanese Labor Government is strengthening Medicare and building Tasmania’s future, today announcing an investment of $10.1 million to deliver a new health hub for Smithton.
There is a very clear choice at this election: Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut everything.
Circular Head Council has worked closely with Labor Candidate for Braddon Anne Urquhart to develop this significant new election commitment. Labor believes that regional Australia, including residents of Smithton, deserve access to quality health care services.
The Smithton Health Hub will support the relocation of OCHRE Health services from the current premises into one that can accommodate a larger, more comprehensive health service.
The new Health Hub will also have facilities for visiting services and allied health professionals so that residents of Smithton and Circular Head can get the quality care they need, closer to home.
Construction on the Smithton Health Hub is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2027.
This builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s work to strengthen Medicare for Tasmanians:
- More bulk billing, with 9 in 10 GP visits to be bulk billed by 2030.
- More doctors and nurses, with the largest GP training program ever.
- More Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania.
- More choice, lower costs, and better health care for women.
- Even cheaper medicines, with a prescription for a PBS medicine to cost no more than $25.
- A new Burnie Health Hub to bring together a wide range of health services.
- A $1 billion investment in free, public mental health care backed by Medicare, including a new Medicare Mental Health Centre in Brighton, a new headspace in Burnie, and a new headspace Plus in Launceston.
This investment is in stark contrast to Peter Dutton, who was voted the worst Health Minister in Medicare history by Australia’s doctors, after he cut $50 billion from public hospitals and tried to end bulk billing with a fee for every GP visit.
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
Quotes attributable to Anne Urquhart, Candidate for Braddon:
“We’re building Tasmania’s future with better health services and stronger Medicare.
“If re-elected, we will invest $10 million to deliver the Smithton Health Hub, so that people in the Circular Heads region get the healthcare they need.
“Only Labor is strengthening Medicare, with the largest ever investment in more than 40 years.
“This means more free trips to the doctor, cheaper medicines and more Urgent Care Clinics – where all you need is your Medicare card not your credit card.”
