Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

When next the Prime Minister visits the Hunter and Central Coast, I'd like him to be honest with my constituents and explain: why is he cutting the GP after-hours service that helps 75,000 families every year; why has he changed the workforce classification for my doctors, which means it's almost impossible to find new doctors in our area, leading to much longer waits; and why is he cutting the bulk-billing incentive for GPs, which means that my families have to pay more to see a doctor if they're lucky enough to find one? He might also explain why he stuffed up the national vaccine rollout; why he failed to establish a national quarantine system; why he encouraged the New South Wales government not to lock down east Sydney when he had a chance, leading to the virus escaping to my region; and why his incompetence led to the New South Wales government stealing our vaccines. All of these things the Prime Minister must explain. He must be honest. He must explain to my constituents why he is attacking the health outcomes of my constituents, because the truth is that the Prime Minister is happy to come up to Williamtown, have the red carpet rolled out and have Top Gun played on a soundtrack, but, when he flies out, all that is left behind is cuts to our health outcomes, cuts to our services and attacks on my families. And my region says, 'Enough is enough.'

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