Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the Prime Minister and the health minister on their recent announcement of a competitive public application process for 20 new Medicare-eligible MRI licences at locations of need around our nation. Our government is absolutely committed to ensuring quality health services all around the country, including in my electorate of Leichhardt. The coalition is able to invest this $175 million in new MRI licences because we have certainly managed the health budget and we're able to run this very strong economy.

An MRI licence will allow providers in my electorate, such as Cairns Radiology, to charge MRI services to Medicare. Cairns Radiology, very capably led by Robin Gordon, has done an amazing job in championing an MRI licence for our city. This means that all Medicare-eligible MRI scans done at Cairns Radiology will be bulk-billed, making health care in my electorate more accessible and affordable for all Cairns and Far North Queensland residents. In under two weeks, more than 375 people completed my survey in support of one of those 20 MRI licences being allocated to Cairns.

MRIs are about saving lives and protecting lives. My electorate in Queensland includes one of our biggest cities, Cairns, so, in my eyes, an MRI licence is a no-brainer.

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