Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered Sunday a US$5.4 billion boost to the national healthcare system in an appeal to voters ahead of elections on May 17.
According to surveys, voters are concerned about the cost of living.
As his three-year tenure ends, Albanese has yet to announce the exact date of the elections. However, unofficial campaigning is already well underway.
“Just as every Australian wants the best healthcare for their family, our government wants the best healthcare for every Australian,” the Prime Minister said at a rally in Launceston, Tasmania.
Albanese announced that his centre-left Labour government would invest an additional Aus$8.5 billion (US$5.4 billion) in Medicare, which has provided universal healthcare since 1984.
The government stated that it would result in patients not having to pay for 90% of doctor visits by 2030, as well as providing additional funding for nurse and doctor training.
The conservative opposition leader, Peter Dutton, replied to the latest spending promise by stating that if elected, his Liberal-National coalition would equal the Aus$8.5 billion Medicare investment.
“Without sound and prudent economic management—something Labour is incapable of—investments like this cannot be delivered,” his coalition said in a statement.
According to a Newspoll survey published this month by The Australian, support for Albanese’s Labour Party is nearly tied with that of the opposition coalition.
If the poll result is replicated in the election, the paper predicts a hung parliament with no single party holding a majority.
