News / Federal Election
Emergency medical care relief promised for Merri-bek
Coburg clinic would take pressure off hospital emergency departments
Brunswick Voice
The date of the federal election is likely to be announced within days but candidates have already been campaigning for weeks now. As voters prepare for the polls, Brunswick Voice will provide regular updates about policy announcements and other election news in Wills.
A NEW free urgent care clinic will be opened in Coburg if the Albanese Government is re-elected this year.
The proposed clinic was announced along with 50 other clinics around Australia by Health Minister Mark Butler on Sunday.
It would take pressure off GPs and the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s emergency services department by providing care for urgent but non-life threatening medical conditions without an appointment.
Under the $644 million plan, 80% of Australians will have access to bulk-billed urgent medical care within a 20 minute drive of their home.
Urgent care clinics can treat a range of injuries and illnesses, including minor infections, sprains and sports injuries, minor cuts, insect bites and rashes, mild burns, respiratory problems and gastroenteritis.
There are already 87 urgent care clinics in Australia that have treated more than 1.2 million people following a commitment made by Labor in the 2022 election.
Labor Member for Wills, Peter Khalil, said the aim of the Coburg clinic was to reduce dependency on the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which saw 29,732 non-urgent and semi-urgent presentations in 2023-24.
“Only Labor will deliver a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Coburg so you can get the free urgent care you need, fully bulk billed, without waiting hours in a busy hospital emergency department,” Khalil said.
“The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open seven days, for extended hours, and take pressure off the Royal Melbourne Hospital.”
Brown backs Ratnam
Australian Greens father figure Bob Brown visited Brunswick last Friday to lend his support to the party’s candidate for Wills, Samantha Ratnam.
Brown was guest speaker at a fundraising dinner for Ratnam and the Greens at The Mess Hall in Sydney Road, and according to one attendee, received a “rock star reception”.
Ratnam told the gathering that it was Brown, who was the Greens federal leader from 2005 to 2012, who inspired her to join the party rather than the ALP after she returned to Australia from two years living and working in Sri Lanka in 2007.
“I saw Bob Brown across our screens speaking with courage and care about needing to protect our planet and care for people and I joined the Greens,” Ratnam explained in social media post last weekend.
“Nearly 20 years later, to be able to sit with him in conversation last night at our dinner for Wills, was humbling and surreal.”
Bolton stands again
Veteran Merri-bek councillor Sue Bolton will be running again for Wills for the Socialist Alliance party.
This will be the third consecutive election where Bolton has stood.
In 2022, Bolton came fifth on first preferences with 3.39% of the vote and in 2019, running for Victorian Socialists, she was third with 4.52%.
Bolton launched her campaign at the Merlynston Progress Hall on February 22.
Announcing her candidacy, Bolton described Khalil as “an apologist for genocide” and the Albanese government as “a pale imitation of the Liberal Party on many issues”.
“Our campaign is about building a radical political alternative to the major parties that prioritises the needs of the working class and the environment, not greedy corporations,” she said.
“We want to replace Peter Khalil with a left-wing candidate who supports working class policies, is against the genocide in Gaza and wants to see strong climate action.”
Bolton said she would continue to serve as a councillor during the federal election campaign but would ensure her federal political activities were separate from those for the council.
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