There's great news for locals across the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and the Geelong region, and it's all about health care. The Albanese government is making the single largest investment in the history of Medicare so more Australians can see a GP for free. From this Saturday the bulk-billing incentive will be expanded to all Australians, boosting payments to GPs who bulk-bill every patient. Nationally, it will mean 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits every year, with a number of bulk-billing clinics set to triple. By 2030, nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk-billed. After a decade of cuts and neglect by those opposite, bulk-billing was in freefall, and we're now turning it around.
Whether your family needs urgent care or regular check-ups, we want every Australian to be able to access free health care with their Medicare card. That's why we're also delivering Medicare urgent care clinics for walk-in urgent care, with one in Belmont and one set for Torquay, in my electorate, on the Surf Coast; cheaper medicines, with no PBS script costing more than $25 from January; more free mental health support, including mental health prevention hubs; and more training for thousands of doctors and nurses to care for Australian families.
A strong Medicare doesn't just mean better access to health care; it means stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger nation—and that's exactly what the Albanese Labor government is delivering. As part of our work to strengthen Medicare, we're also putting women's health front and centre. From 1 November, changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule will give women across the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and Geelong more contraceptive choice, making it cheaper and easier to access IUDs and contraceptive implants. We're also funding free training for health practitioners in the insertion and removal of IUDs and implants through the national AUSLARC program. This program will boost the number of qualified practitioners and improve access to services, ensuring women get the care they need close to home.
It's all part of our commitment to provide Australians with better access, lower costs and more choices when it comes to their health care. That's why we're also working with the state governments to deliver the new Barwon women's and children's hospital in Geelong, ensuring local families will be able to get the best maternity and paediatric care closer to home. That's why we're strengthening Medicare and delivering the quality, affordable health care every Australian deserves.
