Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm proud to stand in this place as part of an Albanese Labor government that is delivering for my electorate of Paterson and, more specifically, delivering for the patients of Maitland. Improved health services were a crucial part of my campaign at the recent election. Among our commitments, I made a promise to deliver an MRI licence for the new Maitland Hospital, locally known as the Metford hospital too.

Federal Labor committed to delivering this vital infrastructure for our community, and delivered it in the recent budget. I was delighted that, following the May election, the Hon. Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, worked with me to deliver this vital commitment for our region. The deed of undertaking, otherwise known as the MRI licence for Maitland Hospital, was executed on 4 November this year. From this date, I'm delighted to say, MRI services will be eligible for Medicare rebate, provided the MRI service is listed on the MBS and is requested by a specialist doctor or GP. I'm delighted to be part of a Labor government that offers incentives to encourage diagnostic imaging providers to bulk-bill their patients, by paying an additional 10 per cent of the MBS fee. We are delivering for Paterson, as only a Labor government can.