with Michelle Rowland MP Federal Member for Greenway

One of the commitments Labor took to the Australian people at the last election was to strengthen Medicare, with a promise to deliver 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country.

I’ m pleased to say we have now delivered on that promise.

With the opening of the final Medicare Urgent Care Clinic this week, every one of the 137 clinics we promised is now open and providing free healthcare to Australians.

These clinics treat urgent but not life-threatening illnesses and injuries, such as minor infections, cuts, sprains and fevers. They are fully bulk billed, open seven days a week, and require no appointment. All you need is your Medicare card.

More than 3.1 million Australians have used Medicare Urgent Care Clinics since 2023, and with this final clinic, four out of five Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Crucially, our Government has ensured these clinics are now a permanent part of Medicare.

Last year, I was proud to open our local Medicare Urgent Care

Clinic at Rouse Hill Town Centre. Since then, I have spoken with many locals who have relied on the clinic to access timely treatment, without the need to wait for a GP appointment or travel to an emergency department.

If you have used the Rouse Hill clinic, I welcome your feedback so we can help ensure these services continue to meet the needs of our community. Please don’ t hesitate to get in touch with my office.

These clinics are just one part of the Albanese Government’ s broader investment in healthcare. We are delivering a record investment in public hospitals, including the new Rouse Hill Hospital, which is now under construction.

We are also making lifechanging medicines more affordable by listing additional treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and reducing the maximum cost of PBS medicines to $ 25 per script- the lowest they’ ve been since 2004.

These investments are about ensuring every Aussie has access to high quality, affordable health care close to home. This is what strengthening Medicare looks like, and that’ s exactly what Labor is delivering.

Community organisations aare being encouraged to apply for funding under a $ 1 million grants program designed to support multicultural festivals and events throughout the state.

Delivered by the NSW Government, the Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program offers grants ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 20,000 to help community groups create events that celebrate cultural diversity and bring people from different backgrounds together.

Applications are now open for multicultural festivals and events scheduled to take place between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027.

The funding aims to support activities that showcase the rich cultural diversity of NSW through food, music, entertainment and cultural traditions, while fostering greater understanding, inclusion and community connection.

Each year, the NSW Government supports hundreds of multicultural events that provide opportunities for communities to share their heritage and celebrate the many cultures that make up modern Australia.

The program has previously helped fund a wide range of popular community events and cultural festivals across the state. The grants are administered by Multicultural NSW on behalf of the NSW Government. Applications close at 4pm on Monday, 13 July 2026.

For more information or to apply, visit

multicultural. nsw. gov. au / stronger-togetherevents-festivals.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said the grants play an important role in strengthening community connections.

“ It’ s never been more important for communities to get together in person to celebrate the many cultures that make up NSW,” Mr Kamper said.

“ These grants are about fostering understanding and belonging by giving the whole community the chance to experience, learn about and enjoy diverse cultures.

“ Every year we are impressed by the creativity and energy our multicultural organisations bring to these events, from small local gatherings to major multicultural festivals.

“ The NSW Government is proud to support them to turn their ideas into events that become real highlights on the community calendar.”