Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

As I just said, there will be different views from doctors, nurses and patient groups within that Strengthening Medicare Taskforce. But when you bring those groups together and engage in a respectful, constructive dialogue, you create the best outcomes for the Australian people. And I know that we will do that in that area as well. That taskforce and that fund also sit on top of our commitment to roll out 50 urgent-care clinics, bulk billed, including three in the member's state of Tasmania next year. That will be $220 million in grants to Australia's general practices—practices that deserve more than just our thanks for the extraordinary work that they've undertaken over recent years—and $146 million to strengthen general practice in rural and regional Australia. This government has no higher priority in health than strengthening general practice.

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