Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will launch another push on health on Sunday, announcing a re-elected Labor government would set up a free around-the-clock 1800MEDICARE advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service.
The service would be launched from January 1 and cost A$204.5 million over the forward estimates.
Albanese will tell a Melbourne rally that people would be able to call at any time to get advice from a nurse. If the problem couldn't wait for their regular GP, they would be connected to a free GP telehealth consultation.
"Life isn't 9 to 5. Neither is health care," Albanese will say in his speech, an extract of which was released ahead of delivery.
People with a sick child late at night or an unwell elderly parent would know there was trained expert advice at the end of the phone.
"This will take pressure off people - and off public hospitals.
"And in conjunction with our plan to open 50 more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, it will ensure that free urgent care is within a 20 minute drive away for four out of every five Australians and just a phone call away for every Australian."
The present telehealth service is patchy depending on which part of Australia people live and doesn't provide a weekend GP service.
With a number of Victorian seats in strong contention, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also has a rally in Melbourne on Sunday. Federal Labor's vote in Victoria has been volatile, first collapsing under the unpopularity of the state Allan government but recently reviving.
A small group of men from a boat that arrived illegally in remote northern Australia has been apprehended by Border Force. The men were first discovered by a commercial helicopter pilot.
They had written "SOS" in the sand and put up a flag. It is not known where they came from, or their circumstances.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Saturday, "We do not confirm , or comment on, operational matters.
"There has never been a successful people smuggling venture under our government, and that remains true.
"When someone arrives without visa they are detained and then deported."
In 2022 the Liberals tried to exploit a boat interception on election day, by publicising it and sending text messages to voters.
