Media Statement - 20th November 2007
The establishment of a Medicare office in Belmont will be a top priority for a Rudd Labor Government, Shadow Minister for Health Nicola Roxon and Federal Member for Swan Kim Wilkie said today.
A Medicare office in Belmont – close to doctors’ surgeries, chemists, and the Belmont shopping centre on Abernethy Road - will make it easier for the residents of this community to claim their Medicare rebates.
There are many frail and elderly people in the Belmont area who have difficulty getting to Perth, Midland or Canington to claim their Medicare rebates.
Federal Labor’s commitment to prioritising the establishment of a Medicare office in Belmont will make it much easier for people in Belmont to claim their Medicare rebates in person after they’ve been to the doctorimber for Swan by the Howard Government. Its terrific that Federal Labor is prepared to recognise the needs of the com.
Federal Member for Swan, Kim Wilkie, has been campaigning for a Medicare office in the area since 2000 when he presented a petition in Parliament signed by thousands of local residents calling for improved access to Medicare services.
Mr Wilkie said:
The Howard Government has had years to fix this. Instead, they have continually thumbed their noses at the residents of Belmont. It’s terrific that Federal Labor is prepared to recognise the needs of the community in this way.
Having a Medicare facility in Belmont will mean that after visiting local medical services and facilities, rebates can be claimed quickly, easily and close to home. This will also limit costly travel for these people.
Nicola Roxon said:
Federal Labor understands how important this service is to the people in Kim’s electorate. Federal Labor will make establishing a Medicare office in Belmont a top priority, to ensure people who have to pay up front fees are able to obtain their rebates as soon as possible.