SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES
DAVID SMITH MP
MEMBER FOR BEAN
LABOR WILL OPEN A MEDICARE URGENT CARE
CLINIC IN WODEN VALLEY
Woden Valley residents will get the free urgent care they need, fully bulk-billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department, if the Albanese Labor Government is re-elected.
Labor will open a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in the Woden Valley as part of a $644 million commitment to open another 50 Urgent Care Clinics nationwide.
The new Woden clinic will be the first in the ACT to employ a GP and will begin operating in the 2025-26 financial year and expand the existing network from five to six clinics, with better coverage for Canberra’s Southside.
Existing clinics in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Dickson, Weston and Tuggeranong have already succeeded, attracting more than 176,000 visits between October 2023 and February 2025.
In October 2023, the Commonwealth Government invested $7.1 million to upgrade existing walk-in centres to the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic network, hiring additional nurses and expanding to offer specialised advanced scope physiotherapy, radiography and sonography services.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide bulk-billed care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, seven days a week, for extended hours, with no appointment needed.
Quotes attributable to Senator for the ACT the Hon Katy Gallagher:
“I’ve used Urgent Care Clinics and my family has used them, too – I know how important these services are for Canberrans.
“An Albanese Labor Government will continue to invest in health so families in the ACT can access the care they need.
“Labor are true believers in Medicare. We created it and we’re investing $8.5 billion to restore it, in addition to the funding announced today.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Bean, David Smith MP:
“At this election Australia faces a choice: a stronger Medicare with more bulk billing for all Australians under Labor, or more cuts to Medicare under Peter Dutton's Liberals.
“Only Labor will deliver a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Woden Valley so you can get the free urgent care you need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department.
“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open seven days, for extended hours, and take pressure off the Canberra Hospital.”
4 MARCH 2025
