I’ll work with local health professionals to advocate for:

Increased access to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics: Building more clinics will help us employ salaried GPs, nurses, and allied health staff to guarantee bulk-billed consultations over extended opening hours to take pressure off the local hospital emergency department.

Incentives for local Doctors and Nurses: Providing additional federal incentives will attract and retain healthcare professionals in Lyne. This could look like HECS debt forgiveness for young doctors who serve at least 5 years in rural areas, lower interest rates for essential health and aged care workers relocating to rural areas, and increases to the Workforce Incentive Program payment maximums. We should also make sure GPs are given the same minimum salary and leave entitlements as they would get working in a hospital.

Medicare for All: Years of indexation freezes have meant our local doctors have been forced to charge gap payments just to keep their doors open. I support the government’s recent announcements that would revitalise bulk billing, especially in regional areas.

I’ll also advocate for better funding for dental services. Too many locals are struggling with poor teeth which affects their health, keeps them in pain, undermines their confidence and makes life uncomfortable. No one should have to suffer because they can’t afford a dentist.