Albanese Promises Free After-Hours Telehealth as Campaign Nears Its Climax

With just days remaining before election day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is ramping up his campaign, urging supporters to “leave nothing in the tank” as he highlights bold health promises aimed at strengthening Medicare. Under a re-elected Labor government, Australians will soon gain access to expanded, free after-hours telehealth services designed to provide urgent care whenever needed.

On Sunday, Albanese will unveil plans to transform Healthdirect into “1800 MEDICARE,” a $204 million rebranding initiative that will extend the existing telephone and web-based service to include around-the-clock access to GPs. This expansion aims to ensure that Australians can receive free, expert medical advice on a 24/7 basis, with registered nurses available to assess symptoms, provide referrals, and connect urgent cases to after-hours GP appointments via phone or video.

“Life isn’t 9 to 5. With 1800 MEDICARE, neither is healthcare,” Albanese will tell supporters at a rally in western Sydney. He emphasizes that whether it’s a child’s fever late at night or concerns about an elderly parent, having trained medical professionals just a call away can make all the difference.

This announcement builds on Labor’s broader health commitments, including reducing medicine costs, investing billions to boost bulk billing, and opening new Urgent Care Clinics across the country. Health Minister Mark Butler highlighted that the expanded telehealth service will help alleviate pressure on hospitals, with around 250,000 Australians expected to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits thanks to free urgent GP care through 1800 MEDICARE.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is stepping up efforts of his own, signaling plans to target up to 28 seats—particularly focusing on Labor and teal-held electorates lost in 2022, such as Kooyong and Goldstein. After a brief visit to the Northern Territory on Saturday, Dutton heads to Melbourne on Sunday, aiming to sway undecided voters and secure critical seats.

As the campaign intensifies, Albanese continues rallying supporters across the states. On Saturday, he visited Tasmania, joining locals at a barbecue in Launceston, where he urged his team to keep pushing until the polls close on May 3. “We’ll keep going hard all the way up to 6 pm on Saturday,” he declared, serving hotdogs and chatting confidently with party faithful in their signature red T-shirts.

With the finish line in sight, the battle for Australia’s future remains fierce, and Albanese’s focus on healthcare promises to be a key feature of his closing message.