Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator O'Neill, for that question and for allowing me the opportunity to talk about how the urgent care clinics are integrated with existing health services. There is no doubt a new approach was needed. After 10 years of cuts and neglect, primary care is in the worst shape it has been in for almost 40 years. Bulk-billing rates are in decline. Only 14 per cent of medical graduates now choose to work in general practice, dropping from 50 per cent, but the need for those services hasn't declined. People still need to go to the doctor. They get sick and injured. They still need treatment. That's why we've been pleased to work with states and territories in the delivery of this program—because it's essential the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics align with and support the work that is done by state public health systems, particularly in relation to the emergency department. We know there were 8.8 million presentations to emergency departments in 2021, and, of these, 4.1 million were for non-urgent or semi-urgent conditions.