Kate Thwaites MP and the Albanese Labor Government will make the single largest-ever investment in Medicare to ensure more people in Jagajaga can see a GP for free.

Labor knows that over the past decade many GPs in our community have reduced bulk- billing. That’s something our Government began to address when we tripled the bulk-billing incentive for children and for concession card holders.

Now we’re investing $8 billion to support bulk-billing for everyone, making it easier for you to see a GP for free and taking pressure off our hospitals.

Labor will expand the bulk billing incentive to all Australians, boost Medicare payments to GPs that bulk bill every patient and train thousands more nurses and doctors.

Under Labor’s plan, you and your family will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket medical costs.

But it’s all on the line this year. As health minister, Peter Dutton tried to end bulk billing with a GP tax and stripped billions out of Medicare.

He was voted worst ever health minister by Australia’s doctors. Peter Dutton can’t be trusted with Medicare.

In contrast, Labor built Medicare for Australia – and it was built on the Australian values of fairness and opportunity for all.

We don’t want our health system to be more American. We only want our health system to be more Australian.

I am proud of our investments to strengthen Medicare, including our investment in opening the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Heidelberg, which has already treated over25,000 locals for non-life-threatening but urgent care. Labor will also announced if re-elected, we will open a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Diamond Creek and surrounds.

This election is a make or break moment for Medicare. Medicare is at the heart of our universal health system and it’s something I will always fight to protect.