Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is prioritizing healthcare in his final campaign push before the election, proposing a $204.5 million expansion of the healthdirect helpline, which will be renamed 1800 MEDICARE, to provide national coverage and enhance after-hours telehealth services. This initiative aims to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and incentivize GPs to offer extended hours, making healthcare more accessible. Labor emphasizes its commitment to universal healthcare, contrasting it with the opposition’s stance on Medicare and bulk-billing rates.
