Labor vows $644m for additional 50 urgent care clinics if re-elected

Two senior opposition sources, not permitted to talk openly about shadow cabinet, said Dutton was preparing an expensive health policy of his own, making it easier to support Labor’s spending as the opposition struggles to find savings to bolster its budget bottom line. The $644 million clinic pitch was funded in December’s mid-year budget update, the government confirmed.

It is unclear, however, if the opposition will support the urgent care investment. The information contained in this story was provided by the government on an embargoed basis that prohibits questions being asked of non-government parties.

While the precise locations are yet to be finalised, 14 clinics would be opened in NSW at Bathurst, Bega, Burwood, Chatswood, Dee Why, Green Valley and surrounds, Maitland, Marrickville, Nowra, Rouse Hill, Shellharbour, Terrigal, Tweed Valley and Windsor.

Twelve would be built in Victoria at Bayside, Clifton Hill, Coburg, Diamond Creek and surrounds, Lilydale, Pakenham, Somerville, Stonnington, Sunshine, Torquay, Warrnambool and Warragul.

And in Queensland there would be new sites at Brisbane, Buderim, Burpengary, Cairns, Caloundra, Capalaba, Carindale, Gladstone, Greenslopes and surrounds, and Mackay.

Health and aged care is rated as the top issue for 7 per cent of voters, according to the latest Resolve Political Monitor, well behind the cost of living (53 per cent), but ahead of topics such as immigration (4 per cent) and similar to crime (9 per cent).

This masthead reported on January 1 that Labor would put bulk-billing and urgent care clinics at the centre of its campaign pitch.

Labor had a six-point lead on the Coalition on health policy in the Resolve poll in April last year, but this has turned into a three-point deficit as ratings of Labor’s performance in all areas have trended downward along with its level of core political support amid an inflation crisis.