Opened the debate
Chesters argued that the absence of after-hours bulk-billing GP services in Bendigo forced families to use emergency departments for non-emergency conditions, resulting in long waits. Chesters stated that the government addressed this by funding a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in the electorate. Chesters claimed that Medicare had collapsed under the previous government due to frozen rebates and rising costs. Chesters asserted that the current administration is rebuilding the system by tripling bulk-billing incentives for children and concession card holders.