SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
MINISTER FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES
SENATOR FOR THE ACT
DAVID SMITH MP
MEMBER FOR BEAN
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
MONDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2025
SUBJECTS: Woden Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, bulk-billing in the ACT, Bondi terror attack.
SENATOR KATY GALLAGHER, SENATOR FOR THE ACT: Okay, well, thanks everybody for coming. This is a really important opening of the Woden Medicare Urgent Care centre, and we are so thrilled. This has been something that Dave and I and others have been working on for some time. We know that the ACT has a significant shortage of bulk billing access to primary care, and where it is, I think you know, our biggest priority is to try and turn that around. We're doing that a number of ways around the country. I would like to acknowledge also for health, the local PHN and all of the staff that have leaned in and got this up and running in the most incredibly fast time, and to have it open before Christmas, I think, is a very significant achievement. So, I really want to thank everybody who's been involved. This means we will have a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic here, doctor led, operating between the hours of 10 and 8, initially, being able to see patients and provide them with that access to bulk billing care. We're really thrilled that this has got up and running before Christmas, but also part of a much bigger package of reforms to get new clinics open in Canberra and to really try to shift the dial on what's been a persistent and stubborn problem in the ACT, which is very low levels of bulk-billing care, but also out of hours access to primary care here. We've got working, obviously, in conjunction with the hospital, but also with the nurse leg walk in centres as well as part of the network, but this will be a significant addition to the people on the south side of Canberra in particular, to access bulk-billed primary care through extended hours, seven days a week. I'll hand to Dave now to say a few words.
DAVID SMITH MP, MEMBER FOR BEAN: Thanks Katy and look, firstly, I'd just like to acknowledge the extraordinary work by health professionals right across this year and across so many different ranges of professions. You do such extraordinary work, and the clock never really goes off, and we're just so grateful for the extraordinary work you do. And this is another really important part of the health picture here in the ACT and I'd also like to pay tribute to everyone who really made this happen so quickly. It's great to be able to champion the cause like this. We're not the ones who do the actual really hard work and actually pulling it all together in a really accessible part of Canberra, too. And so, for southern Canberrans, this is such a massive change, really, in terms of providing access to affordable and accessible healthcare, and at the same time, take pressure off our emergency services as well too. So thank you to everyone who's made today possible for health across the PHN who seem to never switch off. Everyone here as well, too. I've been here at least half a dozen times, I think, in my sort of health journey and family's health journey and this, I'll be making sure that I head for the stairs next time I'm here, too.
JOURNALIST: Senator Gallagher, when this election announcement was put out there, it was originally discussed as going to be a nurse-led clinic, as the other ones in the ACT are, when was the decision made to make it a GP led clinic?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think the intention was always that it was going to be GP led I think, if there was anything, you know, I think it was meant to complement the nurse led clinics, and it was a decision that we had taken was to have it as a GP-led clinic. So I think it was pretty much in the early days. I think I gave an interview where I said that it was nurse led at the time, but that, you know, wasn't correct.
JOURNALIST: And was the decision to make a GP-led based on any assessment of the nurse led clinics? I know there's one that's supposed to be released next year, looking at how efficient they are.
GALLAGHER: Not necessarily. I mean, when we took the decision on how to roll out Medicare Urgent care clinics here. We didn't want to complicate a system where there was nurse led walk in centres already operating, and we were working with the ACT Government, and so we put that in place, and it has significantly enhanced the walk-in centres operations, both in time and resources. I think the decision to make this GP-led is really to lean into the success of what we're seeing around the country, and we'd seen in that first year where we had, you know, seen, you know, more than 40 I think Medicare Urgent Care Clinics set up how successful they were, how they were embraced by the community, and how they worked with the hospitals. And we feel that that's a model that we could augment here. I mean, really, we're trying to look at every single option for the ACT. We are an outlier in terms of bulk-billing rates, as you know, and you've covered many times, Dana. And so, we've enhanced the nurse walk in centres. We've now got this one up. We've got our election commitment to deliver more, and we'll continue to do it, and we'll continue to work with health professionals and providers about what is going to shift the dial here, because this has been a problem as long as I have been in public life. Like for 20 years, the ACT has had issues with access to primary health care, out-of-hours and at affordable rates. So, if there's other ideas people have, we will embrace them, because this is a priority for us.
JOURNALIST: Have you seen any early results from that assessment of the nurse-led clinics?
GALLAGHER: I haven't. No, I haven't. But look, they have been assessed over the years. I mean, I was the health minister that established them when I was in the ACT, and that was it, as a direct result of the kind of overwhelming of our emergency departments, and there's been reviews and evaluations since then, they've been found to be safe and effective models of care. There's never been any issues with them. They've got very clear clinical guidelines, and I don't expect that a review will show anything different than others that have gone before it. But we need to do something else. The bulk billing rates still, you know, just over 50% it's moved slightly in the last six months. But we've got to do more.
JOURNALIST: In terms of the value for money, though, is that, is that review going to be published in early in the new year?
GALLAGHER: I'll come back to you on it. I don't know. It's not in my portfolio area. But again, value for money, this has been an issue that's been around since the nurse-led walk-in-centre started. Some people think it's an expensive model of care. I think for anyone who's used the walk-in-centres, they're pretty thankful that they exist. And sometimes you do have to provide, you know, additional resources to, I think, supplement a two-hospital town with two emergency departments where you have limited options in primary care outside of hours.
JOURNALIST: Just on the GP shortage, a practice in Wanniassa closed last week and let patients know by text message, were you disappointed to see that, and are you concerned for the patients of that practice?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think it was a surprise to everybody. I heard about it not long after, because a patient contacted me who had received a text message. So yeah, it's not ideal to have that happen in that way. My understanding is all of the records have been provided to another, essentially a sister clinic in a neighbouring suburb, so that continuity of care can happen. But yeah, I mean, neither of us want to see any GP practices closed. We want to see more open and more open that offer bulk billing and extended hours.
JOURNALIST: A couple of other things on that. The GP training, there's been some disappointment that the ACT didn't get any of those Commonwealth assisted places. There's a long-standing debate over the Monash categorisation. Canberra is like has the worst GP shortage of any capital city. Is it time to recognize that we're not just like Sydney or Melbourne, and change that Monash assessment? And do you want to like? Are you personally advocating for training places to be in the next round to be given to the ACT.
GALLAGHER: So, on the training places, we are working with the ACT Government and the ANU Medical School to make sure that, you know, we are doing what we can to support the Medical School, and we continue to do that. So yes, I mean, again, I was part of a government that established the medical school. We didn't have one because we didn't train our own doctors. We now train our own doctors. The hospital is better for it, because they get access to locally trained doctors. And of course, we want to supplement the GP workforce here. On the Monash Medical model. Yes, I've had discussions with the Minister. I mean, we are, you know, he and I work closely together with the local members here about what needs to happen. That's why we made these election commitments. So we're going to implement those, but we'll always look at other options to improve access to care here in the ACT.
JOURNALIST: But changing the Monash categorisation, that's not a policy you took to the election, is that under active consideration now?
GALLAGHER: Look, not specifically, there are obviously precedent issues that we have to consider. I mean, there's a lot of places like the ACT.
JOURNALIST: You don't think it's unique?
GALLAGHER: I think there's some unique arguments, but I don't think that a government can just change it based on one part of the country. You know, like realistically, we have to think through those issues. What I can say is that we will continue to look at every single way we can support access, better access to primary care, at bulk bill rates with a workforce that can support it. It's not a there's no single solution, and we don't pretend there is. So this is our priority. We've got our election commitments implement those, but we will continue to advocate and look at what else can be done.
JOURNALIST: Doctors are also complaining about the payroll tax in the ACT. Do you agree with them? Or do you ask the ACT Government to reconsider that?
GALLAGHER: Look, I'm pretty sympathetic to that argument, I have to say, and I've said that to the ACT Government. I think it's, you know, you know, I think there are special circumstances around that workforce.
JOURNALIST: So you think that should change?
GALLAGHER: Well, I'm not going to tell the ACT government what to change. I've been there, and I always a lot of free advice in politics, usually from people outside the areas that are responsible for it. So, I think, you know, the ACT Government knows my views on it, but they are responsible for their budget.
JOURNALIST: Just on the ANU thing, so they missed out as part of it was a competitive process. Do you think that something outside of that competitive process needs to happen to ensure that we can get those training places in the ACT?
GALLAGHER: Well, I think we need to work with the ACT Government and the ANU Medical School to make sure that it's offering, you know, it's as strong as it can be, and that it's delivering the doctors that we need locally, and we'll continue to do that.
JOURNALIST: But it's a Commonwealth decision around that specifically.
GALLAGHER: Yes, and there was a competitive process, and I think what's come out of that is we need to work with the ACT Government and the ANU Medical School to make sure it's in the position it needs to be in to get those places.
JOURNALIST: Can I just ask a non-medical question? Polling out today showing a real decline in support for the PM around his response to the Bondi terrorist attack. What would you say to that and do you back his leadership?
GALLAGHER: Of course. I mean, I have spent every day with the Prime Minister. I think in the last week, I have seen him not only lead the nation but lead the National Security Committee and lead the response. And I think he has done an incredible job in very, very difficult circumstances. And I would say, you know, I'm surprised that the opposition have taken the view that and the approach that they have. I can't think of another time in this country's history where there has been a terrorist event like this, a terrorist attack on Australian citizens, whether it be here or internationally, where the opposition has chosen to take the path that they have this week. I think in almost every other example you would have seen the opposition work with the government and try to work with the government. That has not been the approach, and I think that's incredibly unfortunate.
JOURNALIST: Would you back a Royal Commission as well as the departmental review into intelligence and law enforcement agencies?
GALLAGHER: So the Prime Minister has announced that review into the intelligence agencies, the security agencies and those that sit around them. Of course, I support that, and he has also said his focus is on the ongoing investigations. I mean, this event, this horrific antisemitic terror attack, happened just over a week ago. Last night, I attended the service here in Canberra in the Great Hall. I was very honoured to participate in that very sombre event, but also very, you know, as part of Hanukkah celebrations, also a focus on the light that comes out of dark situations. It was extremely touching. But this is ongoing, like I'm a member of the National Security Committee. We've met every day since the attack, and we'll continue to meet this you know, the PM has made it clear the focus right now is on the ongoing security issues related to this investigation, I think that's entirely appropriate.
JOURNALIST: Just on the AFP, counter-terrorism under staffing issue that's been raised. Is the AFP going to get any additional funding for that, and how much?
GALLAGHER: Well, the PM’s announced additional funding this week, in amongst with our proposed legislation changes and a gun buyback scheme. I mean, all of that has happened in the last week. As part of that, there was extra resourcing for the AFP. We've also provided extra resourcing in previous budgets on counter-terrorism. But this is something that is ongoing. I mean, when you look at the pressures on the budget, when I look at them, and Jim and I have been so clear about this, defence, national security is one of those significant pressures. We live in a very, you know, globally changing world where there are additional security threats, and so our focus and our investment and our additional resourcing is under constant review.
ENDS
