Dorinda Cox (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to welcome the National Cabinet's agreement, delivered by the Albanese Labor government, to provide record new funding for Australia's public hospitals. For Western Australia—this is remarkable—it'll deliver an additional $2.4 billion in public hospital funding over the next five years and will bring the total funding for WA hospitals to an estimated $23.4 billion. This will deliver tangible benefits for Western Australians and will take pressure off our hospitals by providing the certainty needed to plan ahead. It will strengthen our workforce and respond to the rising demand, just as our Medicare urgent care clinics are already easing the pressure on our emergency departments. This hospital funding forms part of the Albanese Labor government's broader commitment to Medicare. A big happy 42nd birthday to Medicare.