PM’s Visit Highlights the need to Strengthen Medicare to Build Wyndham's Future

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Joanne Ryan, Federal Labor Member for Lalor, at the Werribee Medicare Urgent Care Clinic last week, reinforcing the critical need to strengthen Medicare for our community.

The Werribee Medicare Urgent Care Clinic was among the first of 87 clinics nationwide and has already provided nearly 20,000 locals with free urgent medical care since May 2023. As a result, over 16,000 people have avoided unnecessary trips to the Emergency Department.

For Wyndham’s young and growing community, access to quality healthcare is vital. Notably, 41% of patients at the Werribee clinic are under 18, and 19% of patients are under the age of five.

That’s why Joanne Ryan & Labor have made Medicare stronger since we came to government:

✅ More GPs for Wyndham —Reversing Liberal cuts that stripped Wyndham of its Distribution Priority Area Status.
✅ Lowering medicine costs—Saving locals $7 million through cheaper medicines, with another $1.5 million in savings expected from capping PBS scripts at a maximum of $25.
✅ Expanding Medicare coverage to four MRI machines in Lalor, eliminating the need for trips to Geelong or Sunshine.

Lalor is also set to benefit significantly from the Albanese Labor Government’s $8.5 billion investment in Medicare—the largest boost since Labor created it. This will double the number of bulk-billing practices, delivering 120,000 additional bulk-billed GP visits and saving local families between $204 and $374.

In contrast, Peter Dutton and the Liberals have a track record of attacking Medicare by:

❌ Attempting to tax GP and Emergency Department visits
❌ Slashing Medicare rebates
❌ Cutting $50 billion from hospitals

The choice is clear: to keep Medicare strong in Lalor, vote Joanne Ryan and Labor on May 3.

MONDAY, 7 APRIL 2025