Prime Minister deceives Western Australians over clinics
The Prime Minister’s announcement of an
Urgent Care Clinic opening in Western Australia only highlights the fact that
Labor lied to Australians by making a promise that could not be delivered.
The new Urgent Care
Clinic announced for Cockburn, is already 4 months behind schedule and there is
no guarantee that it will be open for the promised extended hours.
Senator the Hon
Michaelia Cash said: “Mr Albanese again thinks he can pull the wool over the
eyes of Western Australians – he’s done this time and again.”
“He’s happy to fly
into this State for a few hours and make an announcement but he should not
think he is fooling anyone,’’ she said.
“The reality behind
this announcement is very different to what Mr Albanese is trying to portray –
these clinics are hopelessly behind schedule and many are not opening as they
were promised to,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Western
Australian health system is in crisis – people in this State are being let down
by two Labor governments – the Cook State government and the Albanese Federal
government,’’ she said.
Shadow Health
Minister Senator the Hon Anne Ruston said: “Labor promised that every Urgent
Care Clinic would be open during the extended times of 8am-10pm, but it was
revealed in Budget Estimates earlier this year that this not always the case.”
“The Government
seems to be merely rebadging existing clinics with no guarantee that they will
be open for extended hours,’’ Senator Ruston said.
“This is far from
providing the promised improved access to critical healthcare and reduced
pressure on hospital emergency departments,’’ she said.
The Health Minister
promised that 50 Urgent Care Clinics would be up and running across the country
by 1 July this year, but it has been over four months since that deadline and
not even half of these clinics are up and running.