In a move that could significantly improve access to healthcare for many Australians, the federal Labor government has pledged to establish 50 new bulk billing urgent care clinics across the country. This ambitious plan, part of a pre-election promise, is set to bring the total number of such facilities to 137 by the end of June 2026, should Labor secure a second term in office.
The $644 million initiative is designed to ensure that approximately 80 per cent of Australians, or four in five, will be within a 20-minute drive of an urgent care clinic. This expansion is not just about convenience but a strategic effort to alleviate the strain on household budgets and reduce the overwhelming demand on hospital emergency departments.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers emphasised the dual benefits of the plan, stating, ‘If you provide more bulk billing doctors in more suburbs and towns, it means less stress for families, and it means less pressure on household budgets.’
He also highlighted the positive ripple effect this would have on emergency departments, which are often the first port of call for non-life-threatening conditions.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are a critical component of the healthcare system, offering free care by GPs or nurses for conditions or injuries that require immediate attention but are not severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room.
These clinics cater to a range of minor injuries and illnesses, from cuts and basic fractures to bronchitis and ear infections. Since their inception, more than 1.2 million people have received care at these facilities, with a significant proportion being children under the age of 15.
The proposed distribution of the new clinics is geographically diverse, ensuring that both metropolitan and regional areas benefit. New South Wales is set to receive 14 clinics, Victoria 12, Queensland 10, Western Australia 6, South Australia and Tasmania 3 each, and both the ACT and the Northern Territory will gain an additional facility.
However, the plan has not been met without criticism. The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has questioned the value for money and the practicality of staffing these new clinics amidst workforce shortages.
RACGP president Dr Michael Wright suggests, ‘The best solution to increase access to urgent care and ease pressure on our hospitals is funding existing general practices to expand their current services, including for more after-hours services.’
This approach, he argues, would lead to ‘better health outcomes’ due to the continuity of care and familiarity with patients’ medical histories.
Despite these concerns, Health Minister Mark Butler remains confident in the program, citing an independent evaluation of the existing clinics that is currently underway and set to report in 2026. He asserts that the presence of urgent care clinics has already led to a decrease in semi-urgent and non-urgent cases at emergency departments.
‘There is no doubt this program is working. It is delivering for Australians and it is having a material impact on our hospital system,’ he told reporters.
Below is the complete list of proposed locations for the new clinics:
| New South Wales | Bathurst, Bega, Burwood, Chatswood, Dee Why, Green Valley and surrounds, Maitland, Marrickville, Nowra, Rouse Hill, Shellharbour, Terrigal, Tweed Valley, and Windsor |
| Victoria | Bayside, Clifton Hill, Coburg, Diamond Creek and surrounds, Lilydale, Pakenham, Somerville, Stonnington, Sunshine, Torquay, Warrnambool, and Warragul |
| Queensland | Brisbane, Buderim, Burpengary, Cairns, Caloundra, Capalaba, Carindale, Gladstone, Greenslopes and surrounds, and Mackay |
| Western Australia | Bateman, Ellenbrook, Geraldton, Mirrabooka, Mundaring, and Yanchep |
| South Australia | East Adelaide, Victor Harbour, and Whyalla |
| Tasmania | Burnie, Kingston, and Sorell |
| Australian Capital Territory | Woden Valley |
| Northern Territory | Darwin |
These clinics are poised to become a vital part of the healthcare landscape, offering timely and cost-effective care to communities across Australia.
We invite our YourLifeChoices readers to share their thoughts on this initiative. Are there other areas in healthcare that you feel need more attention? Let us know in the comments below.
Also read: Recent survey reveals electorates without bulk billing GPs
It is so important, for so many reasons, that the Labor government is returned.
It is so important for so many reasons that the labor government is NOT returned.
Free services are too often abused. All services should cost something. Health care should be affordable, but not so affordable that it encourages overuse.
I went to an urgent care clinic.Staff complained that at least half of who attend have no genuine need to seek treatment. I waited 6 hours for a doctor to spend precisely three minutes with me, then give me antihistamines. I should have been able to get a script over the phone, based on a description of the symptoms and the circumstances surrounding their appearance. Had my regular doctor been available for a phone consult, I could have been effectively treated that way.
There are far better, common sense ways to reduce the load on our health care system. For example, why do we have to see a GP to get a referral to a specialist? Why do we have to go back to the GP every few weeks to get a repeat prescription for medications the GP has already advised will be needed long term? Why do we have to go back to the GP to get results from a simple blood test that showed everything was normal?
I agree with Dr Wright. Focus on improving the capacity of regular GP Clinics, where patients see a doctor who knows their history. Encouraging greater use of telehealth services would cut costs. And stop offering unlimited free or heavily subsidised services to patients who abuse their health and make no attempt to follow medical advice. Obese patients, for example, who refuse to adjust their diet, or folk who consume harmful substances and refuse to even try to break their addiction, should not be allowed to impose huge costs on the taxpayer for health care that cannot possibly be effective. Start rewarding healthy habits and making those who continually and purposely over-indulge in ways that are known to compromise health pay their way.
But no. Re-elect Labor to do yet more harm to our economy by throwing money at the useless and the irresponsible. No wonder this country is in a mess!