Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

We are ensuring that we do get that uplift across not only Victoria but elsewhere. Once Medicare Locals are established, ongoing annual core funding of around $171 million will be available, which is more than double the annual core funding of approximately $85 million currently provided to the divisions of GPs.

The first 19 Medicare Locals commence in July 2011. It is about providing those services to those regions, about filling those gaps within the system. Victoria will continue to have a health and hospital system, but this is about the Commonwealth stepping in to provide local organisations to assist and meet the needs of local communities. If you do not want local communities to be supported through Medicare Locals then encourage them not to apply in your region, because Medicare Locals will make it easier for patients to access these services. (Time expired)