A Dutton Coalition Government will deliver an Urgent Care Clinic for the Green Valley and surrounding areas, providing this fast-growing community with better access to primary healthcare.
Deputy leader of Liberal party Sussan Ley joined Liberal candidate for Werriwa Sam Kayal (second from left) and other members of the opposition frontbench for the announcement at Green Valley on Monday.
Mr Kayal said he had been advocating hard for this commitment to make sure that South West Sydney has access to the services it desperately needs.
“Our growing population is being left without affordable access to necessary health services,” Mr Kayal said.
“The Albanese Labor Government and its MP have had three years to deliver an Urgent Care Clinic, but failed.”
The Liberals claim local families have been significantly impacted by Labor’s primary healthcare crisis.
They point out that Medicare bulk billing rates have declined from 88 per cent under the Coalition to 77 per cent under Mr Albanese and Labor.
This is only adding further demand to already under-pressure hospitals across Werriwa, they say.
The Emergency Department at Liverpool Hospital has seen a 25 percent increase in non-urgent presentations and a 23 percent increase in semi-urgent presentations in the July 2024 quarter alone.
“The Labor Government has been taking this growing part of Sydney for granted, as things continue to get harder and harder for the local households – it has never been harder or more expensive to see a GP,” Mr Kayal said.
“Since Labor came to power, bulk billing numbers in Werriwa have dropped – with 213,000 fewer bulk billing services delivered.
“Local families are already struggling with the cost of living, and now they are paying 45 percent more today than three years ago to see a GP.”
“Sam has been a tireless campaigner for his community and its needs, and securing this primary health commitment is a great example of his ability to be a strong voice for Werriwa in Parliament,’’ Ms Ley said.
Shadow minister for health and aged care, Senator Anne Ruston, said that the Liberals were focused on ensuring all Australians have timely and affordable access to a GP.
