Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP says increased quotas for the Shingles vaccine Shingrix is good news for older Australians in Mallee.

“I advocated as Member for Mallee and as Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health to

increase the Shingrix vaccination quotas. Thankfully $57.7 million over four years announced in Tuesday’s budget will assist the disproportionately higher number of older people in Mallee compared with the general population.”

Dr Webster said the announcement of more Shingles vaccines is great news for patients but does not excuse the Albanese Labor Government for mishandling the rollout of Shingrix.

“I called Labor out for its poor handling of the rollout in January after extensive delays and failure to meet patient demand after Mallee residents approached me concerned they could not access the vaccine,” Dr Webster said.

“Four months later we finally have this announcement, but that does not excuse the pain and suffering felt by Shingles patients over Health Minister Mark Butler and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s botched vaccine management.”

Dr Webster said Tuesday night’s budget did nothing to improve regional health services or outcomes.

“I am appalled that the Treasurer’s $70 million to remove the barriers to accessing Medicare rebates for MRI machines, limiting this to only metropolitan areas instead of all regions, especially given that regional Australia that needs them the most. As I said yesterday before Question Time, Labor is playing political games with people’s health to pork barrel city electorates.”

Dr Webster said other health and aged care measures proposed by Labor in the budget failed to account for a lack of workforce.

“Labor is not doing enough to ensure people in regional Australia have adequate access to healthcare. Instead, Labor tries to win over city electorates at the expense of regional Australia. They pour funding into Urgent Care Clinics that are not a long-term strategic solution – all they do is stretch the workforce even further.”