By Sarah Schwager
A FEDERAL minister will discuss the case for increased Medicare access for Cranbourne residents during the sitting of Parliament in the next few weeks.
Human Services Minister Joe Hockey said he would consider increasing hours at the Medicare branch in Cranbourne, along with Liberal Flinders MP Greg Hunt.
The discussion came about last week after the News reported that local residents, Casey councillors and a Federal Labor MP were lobbying to increase the hours so working people had better access.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford and Holt MP Anthony Byrne said they wanted to see the Medicare office at Cranbourne Centro Shopping Centre open on Saturday mornings and Thursday nights as many residents had contacted them about the issue.
The branch opened in April last year.
Mr Hockey said the Medicare office had come about after the Government acted on recommendations made by Mr Hunt.
Mr Hunt said he had spoken to local residents and would now meet with the minister to make the case for extended hours.
“I think there is an opportunity for the minister to consider Cranbourne in a wider review of opening hours.”
Mr Byrne said he would also be taking the issue to Parliament as well as directly to Mr Hockey.
“This Cranbourne Medicare office is the only office in the region that doesn’t have extended hours,” Mr Byrne said.
“It is unfair, given that residents lobbied so hard to get the office open, that it doesn’t open on Thursday night or Saturday morning.”
The majority of Medicare branches are open the extended hours, including nearby offices – Dandenong, Frankston and Fountain Gate.
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