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An Albanese Labor Government will strengthen Medicare and fix Scott Morrison’s GP crisis.

Under the Liberals, Medicare has faced rolling cuts and attacks, beginning with attempts to end universal fee-free health care with a GP co-payment every time you see a doctor, followed by a cut of billions with a six-year freeze on Medicare rebates. 

Since then, Scott Morrison has cut psychiatry telehealth items, removed regional bulk billing incentives, and made 900 other cuts and changes to Medicare rebates – like hip replacements and knee surgery. 

In 2019 Scott Morrison announced a 10-year Primary Healthcare Plan, but true to form with this Prime Minister, the Plan was all announcement and no delivery. The Government even cut its own $450 million commitment to deliver the Plan. 

The AMA said last month:
“The AMA had hoped the Commonwealth’s attitude to general practice would change, however, the long-awaited Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan released in last week’s Budget was simply more of the same. It delivered a welcome vision for general practice, but no funding to deliver that vision.”

The Royal College of GPs has warned that:
“Rising rates of chronic disease, an ageing population, the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed preventive care due to the pandemic and a looming mental health crisis are putting increasing pressure on the system, this is resulting in poorer outcomes and long hospital wait times. Unless there is significant investment and reform, the system will fail.”

Strengthening Medicare Fund

Labor will establish a Strengthening Medicare Fund to deliver better access and care for patients, with a commitment of $750 million over the forward estimates ($250 million a year from 2023-24) to deliver:

• Improved patient access to General Practice, including after-hours
• Improved patient access to GP led multidisciplinary team care, including nursing and allied health
• Greater patient affordability
• Better management of complex and chronic conditions, and
• Decreased pressure on Hospitals

The Fund will be delivered in line with recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce which will immediately commence work deciding on and delivering the highest priorities to start fixing Scott Morrison’s GP crisis. 

The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be chaired by the Minister for Health, bringing together Australia’s health policy leaders, including the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Consumer Health Forum, and the National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation.

Labor will finalise the full membership of the Taskforce in government, including representatives from nursing and allied health.

Strengthening Medicare GP Grants

An Albanese Labor Government will also deliver the Strengthening Medicare GP Grants program to invest $220 million in our local GP practices after a decade of Liberal cuts and neglect.

Labor’s Strengthening Medicare GP Grants program will provide funding for GPs to:

• Upgrade IT systems including to support telehealth consultations
• Upskill staff
• Purchase new equipment
• Upgrade ventilation and infection control, and 
• Make other improvements to ensure GPs can see more patients and provide better care

Grants will be provided depending on GP practice size, with smaller practices being able to access grants of $25,000 and larger GPs being able to access grants of $50,000.

This added investment will provide a badly needed boost to practices so GPs can provide better care and see more patients.

Only Labor can be trusted to strengthen Medicare and end the GP crisis.

Today’s commitment is in addition to Labor’s existing health announcements, including:

• More doctors and health professionals for regional Australia boosting workforce incentives for rural and regional GPs to support the engagement of nurses, allied health and other health professionals and provide multidisciplinary team-based care.
• 50 New Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to take pressure off our emergency departments and make it easier for Australian families to see a doctor or nurse when they have an urgent, but not life threatening, need for care. 
• Cutting the cost of medication by reducing the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general co-payment from the current maximum of $42.50 per script, to a maximum of $30 per script. 
• Restoring regional mental telehealth services for regional and remote telehealth psychiatry consultations. 
• Newborn screening to increase the number of screened conditions from around 25 to 80, helping kids get the care they need from the start. 
• First Nations health programs to build and improve health services, expand access to lifesaving dialysis treatment and double federal funding to help eradicate rheumatic heart disease. 
• Supporting our nurses by establishing a National Nurse and Midwife Health Support Service. 
• National Melanoma Nurse Network to deliver 35 extra melanoma nurses across every State and Territory. 

Anthony Albanese said:

“Every day, everywhere I go, people talk to me about how it’s getting more and more difficult to see a doctor.

“General practice is the cornerstone of the Australian health system.

“Australians trust their GPs. It’s a vital relationship in ensuring all Australians get the quality healthcare they deserve. 

“Only Labor has a plan to make it easier for Australians to see their GPs and to strengthen Medicare.”

Mark Butler said:
“Average out of pocket costs to see a GP have increased by 33 percent under this government, and Australian primary care is in crisis.

“Australians deserve better. Not only will Labor ensure Medicare is safe, we will strengthen it.

“Our local GPs were at the coalface of the COVID pandemic, providing COVID and vaccination advice, administering vaccines, and trying to keep up with their usual case load with little or no support from the Morrison Government.

“Our doctors deserve more than thanks. They deserve a Government that gives them the resources to deliver the best healthcare outcomes for Australians.

“Australian GPs have endured a 6-year Medicare Rebate Freeze at the hands of Scott Morrison, which ripped $2.6 billion out of Medicare funding.

“These cuts have left GPs struggling to invest in upgrading equipment and IT systems, struggling to upskill staff, and falling behind on their ability to see more patients.

“Labor understands the crucial importance of primary health care provided by GPs and will make it easier for Australians to see a doctor.”

Up to 700,000 students across Australia will be able to play more sport in school, with a re-elected Morrison Government expanding the popular Sporting Schools program.

The expanded program will now be offered to high school students in year 9 and year 10, providing access to 35 national sporting organisations, including Netball Australia, AFL, Cricket Australia, Hockey Australia and Surfing Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said more than $20 million will be provided to expand the Sporting Schools program, to expand its reach to 2.9 million young people.

“Getting more young people involved in sport helps keep our kids active, builds confidence and it provides a way for families to connect back to community sporting clubs as we bounce back from the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.

“It also creates opportunities and connections to support those students who want to make their sporting dreams a reality and look to become the next Sam Kerr, Ellyse Perry or Lance Franklin.”

The Coalition is also investing $79.6 million to extend the Sporting Schools program for an additional two calendar years to the end of 2024.

Established by the Coalition Government in 2015, Sporting Schools partners with 35 National Sporting Organisations to provide free sport-based activities to students of all abilities to help schools increase children’s participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities outside school.

The current program is delivered for primary schools and a targeted program for year 7 and year 8 students in secondary schools. The additional $20 million will expand the program to year 9 and year 10 students.

Expanding the program to include years 9 and 10 will address the significant decline in sport participation, physical activity and social connectivity in secondary students aged 12-16, particularly amongst girls.

More than 8,000 schools have received funding through the program that now reaches more than 2.2 million students annually.

A re-elected Morrison Government will also provide $4.8 million to support surf lifesaving clubs across Australia to purchase vital life-saving equipment.

All 314 surf lifesaving clubs will be able to access an additional $5,000 each year to make these important purchases, including IRBs, defibrillators, rescue boards and other safety equipment.

Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said expanding Sporting Schools to students in Years 9 and 10 increases the reach of the program to 1,800 secondary schools and an additional 700,000 students, expanding the reach of Sporting Schools to 2.9 million students every year.

“It marks a huge step forward as we continue to support the individual health and wellbeing of students at all levels,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Importantly, the expansion will support talent identification among a cohort of children who could be our athletes of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

“After the successful performances of our athletes in Tokyo, there has never been a better time for our young sports stars to chart a path to their own success.”

These commitments build on the Coalition’s strong record and support for sport in the 2022-23 Budget, including:

• $10.3 million to continue the Participation Grant program, which has supported over 500,000 people in community sport
• $10.3 million to promote leadership and professional development for women in sport, particularly community sport
• Extending high performance sport funding to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first time funding has been allocated for full Games cycle, enabling sports to plan ahead with greater certainty
• $10.6 million on top of existing high performance funding for Paralympics Australia to support and prepare Australia’s Paralympics Team
• Securing and supporting an unprecedented green and gold decade of major sporting events, culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• $10.5 million to leverage upcoming major sporting events to inspire participation and drive community engagement
• $27.3 million to promote and maintain the integrity of sport

An Albanese Labor Government will expand Australia’s critical technology capability, in areas like Artificial Intelligence, robotics and quantum computing. 

With waves of emerging technology in recent years, Australian know-how has been recognised for its huge potential – only for the nation to lose its lead because the Morrison Government has dragged its feet in backing local talent and local industry. 

From artificial intelligence to blockchain development, we suffered a brain drain as Australians moved overseas to countries that valued their skill. As a result we have lost commercial opportunities and jobs. 

Australian investment in high-tech manufacturing has been stagnant at less than 0.5 per cent of GDP under the Morrison Government. 

The application of technology such as AI is sharpening the way businesses operate and supercharging their economies. It’s why countries have developed their own national AI investment programs while Australia lagged woefully behind. 

We can’t afford to be left behind as other economies power ahead. 

With Australian talent leading the charge on the development of quantum computing and technology, Labor is determined to ensure we don’t lose our national competitive edge through a lack of Morrison Government support and backing. 

As interest rates begin to rise and as capital becomes harder to obtain than previous years, we want to make sure that there is a national co-investment fund – working with superannuation and venture capital funds – to back our leading thinkers and their firms. 

That’s why we will set up this Critical Technologies Fund to deliver $1 billion in investment support through loans, equity and guarantees for businesses in critical technologies.  

The Critical Technologies Fund will be set up within our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, designed to rebuild and strengthen Australian industry as we emerge from the pandemic. 

The investment will target key areas including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, robotics and software development.  

Labor believes we are missing too many opportunities to grow industry and jobs through a failure to back local know-how by the Morrison Government. 

Labor believes in a Future Made in Australia – that’s why we have proposed:

• Our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund. 
• Our Buy Australia Plan to leverage government procurement to build strategic industry capability. 
• Creating a Startup Year program to create 2,000 new enterprises a year. 
• A commitment to work with industry to deliver 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030. 

Anthony Albanese said:

“Labor knows the value of high-tech jobs, and we are firmly focused on a bigger future for the industry. Thanks to Labor’s $1 billion Critical Technologies Fund, we will boost high-tech manufacturing, and create more Australian jobs.”  

Richard Marles said:

“Labor will bring jobs home and make more things here in Australia. Only Labor will revitalise Australia’s proud manufacturing industry, securing the well-paid jobs of the future for the next generation.” 

Ed Husic said:  

“Our $1 billion Critical Technologies Fund is an investment in building strategic industry capability in Australia, powering future economic growth, growing jobs – and avoiding a brain drain that is sapping our country of vital talent.” 

An Albanese Labor Government will offer its full support to the upcoming Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2029, following confirmation that Australia will play host. 
 
This is exciting news on so many levels. 
 
It will be the first time Australia will host the Women’s Rugby World Cup. 
 
It also means Australia will be the first nation to host the men’s Rugby World Cup three times, returning to the place where the inaugural tournament was held 40 years ago. 
 
Labor recognises the huge benefits that hosting the Rugby World Cups can bring and is committed to maximising these opportunities. 
 
They are expected to generate $2.8 billion in direct and indirect investment, 14,000 jobs and to stimulate more than $500 million in new trade and investment. 
 
Grassroots rugby will also benefit, with some 30,000 new players expected to be drawn to the sport as a result of having these exciting events happen right here at home.  
 
The Rugby World Cups are an ideal lead-in to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, giving us a chance to showcase the best of Australia to a global audience. 
 

Anthony Albanese said: 
  
“Australians love sports and the big international sports codes love Australia’s world-class facilities and organisational prowess. 
  
“An Albanese Labor Government will be right behind the organisers so Australians can watch the Wallabies and Wallaroos lift the World Cup on home soil.” 
 

Don Farrell said: 
  
“The economic benefits of attracting global events like these are clear. 
  
“But they also leave a valuable and long-lasting legacy by inspiring participation in sport among young people. 
  
“Rugby Australia and the other stakeholders involved in this bid should hold their heads high for the fantastic work they’ve done in bringing these events to Australia. 
  
“They can be assured of on-going support from an Albanese Labor Government.”

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will pour another $4 million into helping our small and medium wine producers showcase their drops around the world.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said grants of up to $25,000 would be provided to support wine producers to promote their product in international markets.

“Our plan for a strong economy and stronger future backs in our world-leading wine producers to uncork new markets and create jobs in our regions,” the Prime Minister said.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the wine industry was a major contributor to the Australian economy, supporting over 160,000 jobs and over $45 billion concentrated in regional Australia.

“This funding helps smaller to medium sized wine producers access the lucrative world market by promoting the Aussie product internationally as some of the safest, most sustainable and highest quality wine in the world,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This investment adds to our $85.9 million Agri-Business Expansion Initiative, which is also supporting the wine industry, which has been hit by global uncertainty and anti-dumping and countervailing duties by China.”

The funding will extend the popular Wine Exports Grants program, administered by Wine Australia, over the next four years. Over 250 grants have been provided to more than 100 wineries provided under the first two rounds.

Recipients will be able to harvest new markets and ensure the industry remains the premium choice for overseas palates.

The trade benefits flow back to growers, to workers and to the regions.

Eligible claims include the reimbursement of:

• specific travel expenses for a single promotional visit (daily allowance, limits apply)
• the cost of providing free samples of wine, including freight or transport
• participation in trade fairs (including online and virtual promotions)
• in-store promotions, and
• marketing and advertising collateral specific to your international audience

The grants are open for applications covering expenses from July 2022.

Applications for the Wine Export Grants will be received and assessed on a demand driven basis until the grant program’s funds for that year have been fully committed, whichever comes first.

The Morrison Government will invest $50 million to create a new business and research partnership with Deakin University, creating 1,100 jobs over the next five years.

Deakin University will work with 21 industry partners, including 16 small businesses, and 7 higher education providers, to accelerate ideas into innovative, sustainable manufacturing solutions in the hydrogen and recycling industries.

The project aims to create more than 60 new products, 100 patents and more than 1,100 new jobs

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Deakin University is the fourth Trailblazer to receive funding through the Trailblazer program which is designed to focus Australia’s considerable research power on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.

“Our economic plan is supercharging Australia’s research and development, creating more jobs and helping to build a strong economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are investing in new clean technology that will create more jobs in Melbourne by backing in Victoria’s best and brightest talent.”

Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the project will have a significant impact for regions across Australia.

“This is a research commercialisation project that will directly benefit regional Australia by ensuring our hydrogen and recycling industries are strong, efficient and reliable,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The Trailblazer investment is an important component of the Government’s $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program announced in the recent 2022 Budget, which is designed to drive economic growth and jobs in regional Australia.”

Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said Deakin University and its partners have promised more than $320 million in co-investment, matching public funding by 6 to 1.

“The co-investment of industry partners, and especially by the 16 partner small businesses, shows that Australian industry is hungry to collaborate with universities to unleash a new wave of technology and innovation,” Minister Robert said.

“This project will help harness the cutting-edge clean energy research being done in our top universities, including in hydrogen, to create more jobs for Australians.

“This Trailblazer funding means more jobs right here in Australia, a stronger research and development sector and a stronger economy.”

Deakin University is the fourth successful Trailblazer to be announced. They were selected as a Trailblazer from a two-stage competitive assessment process where universities were required to submit expressions and interest and then more detailed business cases.

The Morrison Government has invested $362 million in the Trailblazer Universities program – an initial $243 million announced in November last year and an additional $119 million through our Regional Accelerator Program announced on Budget night. This is part of the Government’s $2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan, which will focus the considerable research power of our universities on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.

The Morrison Government understands that resilient supply chains underpin Australia’s prosperity, resilience and national security.

Amid the ongoing effects of the pandemic, war in Europe, natural disasters and rising geopolitical tensions, the Morrison Government is acting to secure resilient supply chains for Australia.

Our expanded Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, backed by an investment of $324 million, underpins Australia’s prosperity, resilience and national security.

We will invest $15 million in a monitoring support mechanism, ensuring Australia is better able to forecast upcoming shocks to our supply chain systems.

This funding includes $4 million to enhance CSIRO’s Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) to model critical domestic transport supply chains, backing in the Morrison Government’s record $120 billion investment in infrastructure including essential projects such as the Inland Rail and Melbourne and Brisbane Intermodals.

Australia’s Chief Scientist will also be commissioned to develop, in consultation with researchers and industry, a Strategic National Plan for Semiconductors to address current and future supply.

As part of the launch of our supply chain resilience policy, the Morrison Government will also invest more than $27 million for 18 projects under round two of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The funding will support projects that secure Australia’s supply chains through the local manufacture of semiconductors that drive our tech devices and water treatment chemicals that keep our water clean.

Under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, the Morrison Government will also provide $53 million to design and construct a state-of-the-art animal health vaccine research and manufacturing facility, set up an Australian Animal Health and Manufacturing Innovation Hub and ensure supply of vital animal health products.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said these investments were a crucial part of the Government’s plan to secure Australia’s economic recovery and build a stronger future.

“Securing our supply chains is a fundamental part of keeping Australia stronger and more secure,” the Prime Minister said.

“The strength of our supply chains matter because they affect every single part of our economy.

“We make things in Australia and we make them well – our supply chains are the backbone of our manufacturing industry and that’s why my Government will always invest in strengthening them.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Morrison Government was working with Australian businesses to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure that critical services and supplies are maintained.

“The world has become a more uncertain, less stable place – our geopolitical landscape is rapidly evolving,” Minister Taylor said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and managing rising trade tensions with China have showed us the importance of our supply chains and having manufacturing capability here at home.

“Our investments not only shore up our supply chain resilience, but they also build our resilience to future shocks.”

Further details of investments:

$15 million for a Supply Chain Monitoring Support

• $4.3 million to enhance the CSIRO Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) to model domestic transport supply chains identified as critical and develop resiliency metrics and a dynamic scenario planning capability with data on domestic supply chain logistics.
• $1.3 million to commission the Chief Scientist to develop a Strategic National Plan for Semiconductors to address current and future supply.
• $10 million to better map and monitor critical supply chains and proactively identify vulnerabilities before they arise, by increasing the capacity of the CSIRO, the Office of Supply Chain Resilience and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources to provide the ‘early warning mechanisms’ for emerging supply chain issues.

$27.3 million for 18 Semiconductor and water treatment chemical SCRI grants

• $27.3 million for 18 successful semiconductor and water treatment chemicals projects under Round 2 of the SCRI to support projects.
• Increase the size of grants available under future rounds of the SCRI (from $2 million to up to $20 million) to support larger, strategically important projects.

$53 million for an Australian Animal Health and Manufacturing Innovation Hub

• $53 million under the MMI Collaboration Stream to Zoetis Australia to design and construct a state of the art animal health vaccine research and manufacturing facility, set up an Australian Animal Health and Manufacturing Innovation Hub and ensure supply of vital animal health products.

Today, the Coalition releases our plan for protecting our borders.

A re-elected Coalition Government will ensure Australia’s borders remain safe and secure by:

• Maintaining Operation Sovereign Borders: the strong and proven policy that saves lives, and tackles people smuggling and irregular migration.
• Sustaining the three vital pillars of our border policies: regional processing, boat turn-backs where it is safe to do so and temporary protection visas.
• Continuing to take a hard line stance against non-citizen criminals: by cancelling or refusing the visas of those who commit serious crimes, and strengthening the grounds for doing so.
• Providing support for genuine refugees: continue to deliver one of the world’s most generous humanitarian programs, in addition to providing 31,500 places for those displaced by the Afghanistan crisis.
• Boosting front line border staff: to stop drugs, weapons and other illegal goods from entering our shores.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said Labor’s promise to abolish temporary protection visas, a key pillar of Operation Sovereign Borders, demonstrated the clear choice at this election between strong borders and weak borders.

“Make no mistake, a change of government means a change to Australia’s strong border protection policies,” Minister Andrews said.

“The Coalition’s strong border policies stopped the boats, ending deaths at sea and the illegal trade of people smuggling.

“When the last Labor Government dismantled our strong and effective border policies, lives were lost, chaos erupted and thousands of children were locked up in detention.”

A re-elected Morrison Government will also pass new laws to charge foreign criminals for the cost of their own immigration detention.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said weak laws passed by Labor in 2009 meant every criminal’s detention – other than people smugglers and illegal foreign fishers – was a burden to taxpayers.

“Because of changes Labor made last time they were in government, murderers and drug dealers are getting a free ride courtesy of the taxpayer – and that ends if the Morrison Government is re-elected,” Minister Hawke said.

“We are reversing Labor’s weak laws because we don’t believe foreign criminals deserve free rent, food and medical treatment while we go through the process of deporting them.

“We have cancelled or refused visas to over 10,000 serious criminals through our reforms to the Character Test and as we go through the process of deporting even more, the free ride they are getting now ends.”

This follows revelations that Chris Bowen, Brendan O’Connor and Tony Burke released 503 individuals who had, or went on to have, criminal convictions for, amongst other things violent crimes (213), sexual crimes (58), child sex offences (40) and serious drug offences (72).

Labor released these people without proper checks and without considering the risk to the community because they lost control of our borders – and that’s the risk under Anthony Albanese.