Australia government touts free healthcare hotline as general election nears

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

53% : On Sunday, Health Minister Mark Butler said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation television that the new hotline would deliver 24-hour access to medical staff "intended to cover circumstances where people need to be seen immediately." "When illness or injury strikes in your family, 1800MEDICARE will be there - a 24/7 health advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service backed by Medicare," Butler added in a statement, which pegged the measure's cost at A$204 million.
46% : Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National coalition and Albanese's main political opponent, has pledged to spend A$9 billion on Medicare if his conservative side of politics wins government on May 3.
36% : The government has sought to make Medicare a core election issue, pledging in February an extra A$8.5 billion ($5.43 billion) for the scheme, amid concerns about reduced levels of bulk billing - a payment option where doctors bill Medicare for their services so patients have no out-of-pocket expenses.

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