JMR FLETCHER X RUSTON - OPPOSITION WELCOMES MYGOV DIGITAL HEALTH BOOST

THE HON PAUL FLETCHER MP
Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

SENATOR THE HON ANNE RUSTON
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

31 March 2023

OPPOSITION WELCOMES MYGOV DIGITAL HEALTH BOOST

The Opposition welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s discovery of the importance of digital health and service delivery with new improvements launched to the myGovApp, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, and Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said today.

“Allowing people to securely use a digital version of their Medicare Card via their myGov wallet is a positive outcome for Australians,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Using a digital Medicare Card is voluntary, but it should prove to be a convenient and safe way to access this information when required.

“As more Australians take up this new feature, it will be important for Services Australia to support customers and health professionals who may have queries about the digital Medicare Card.

“Digitising credentials via the MyGov App, like the Medicare Card, is a deliberate design feature embedded into the app by the Coalition Government.

“Expanding and integrating the use of credentials across jurisdictions was a consistent, bi-partisan and long-term strategic priority of the Data and Digital Ministers Meeting, which was first established by the Coalition Government in 2018.

“Significantly, the Albanese Government has retained this forum as the peak working group between federal, state and territory Ministers.

“Enabling more eligible credentials to be added to myGov will complement and enhance the eventual establishment of a national digital identity ecosystem, which the MyGov User Audit identified as an “urgent” priority for the Albanese Government to progress.

Senator Ruston highlighted the important role that technology has played over the past few years to support the health outcomes of Australians.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand the life-saving role that technology can play in our healthcare system, particularly through the way that telehealth ensured no matter where you lived, Australians were able to access a doctor in a time of need,” Senator Ruston said.

"Innovative health technology was wholeheartedly embraced by the Coalition when in Government, and now the Albanese Labor Government must continue our track record of investing in and incentivising emerging forms of healthcare delivery, including through enhanced technology.

“However, the Government’s track record so far has been to cut 70 telehealth items from Medicare, and it is critical that they reverse this decision," Senator Ruston said.

It was the former Coalition Government who was investing $72 million to modernise Australia’s health system, including through the delivery of innovative new methods to provide care and through the Health Delivery Modernisation Program. We hope the Government continues this important work to maximise the benefit that new technology can provide to Australia’s healthcare system.

ENDS