Daniel Mulino (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

It was terrific to be joined in Sunshine recently by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing for the opening of Australia's 90th Medicare urgent care clinic. The Albanese government has delivered the Medicare urgent care clinic in Sunshine to provide better access to high-quality, free, bulk-billed healthcare services. There's no more important part of our society's safety net than health care. During the election, constituents repeatedly raised with me just how important bulk-billing is. This is one of the key underpinnings of our Medicare system. To have an additional urgent care clinic in Fraser, following the establishment of one in Maribyrnong last year, is a critical service for my community. It's taking pressure off our local emergency department at Sunshine and other hospitals by reducing the number of people attending hospital emergency departments for urgent but not life-threatening conditions such as sprains, infections, rashes and cuts. Long wait times at hospitals are not only an inconvenience but an ineffective use of hospital resources, which urgent care clinics seek to address. Our government has committed to strengthening Medicare. These urgent care clinics are proof of that, with over 1.7 million visits since the first sites opened two years ago. More than 50 per cent of presentations to urgent care clinics in Victoria have been outside of business hours, which means that these clinics are filling an important gap in services. I'm sure this will help vulnerable people across my electorate.

I'd also like to acknowledge the Stronger Communities Program grant recipients in my electorate. I was pleased that, under this year's program, 20 organisations in Fraser received a grant for an infrastructure project that delivers social benefits for our local community. Every organisation that applied is driven by service to and making differences in the community. At the heart of strong communities are volunteers. The grant recipients this year highlight the rich diversity of community organisations that define my electorate of Fraser and modern Australia.

Australian Vietnamese Arts & Culture received a grant. They will use the funding to purchase equipment to produce a documentary for the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia. The documentary will feature interviews with people who arrived 50 years ago and will help senior members of the Vietnamese community to feel valued and connected. It will also create a valuable resource for younger generations to learn about their incredible stories and the journey that they went on.

Another recipient is the Western Eagles soccer club, which is receiving a grant to help fund the construction of women's change room facilities. Upgrading these change rooms will create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, improve local participation and support the growth of women's football at the Western Eagles Football Club.

Congratulations to all of the 20 organisations that received funding, and thank you for all that you do to build stronger communities.

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