Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler launched a special '40 Years of Medicare' pop-up display at Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
The display will allow school groups and other visitors to Parliament House to explore the history of universal health insurance in Australia: from its introduction through Medibank in 1975, to the debate to establish Medicare in the early 1980s, as well as the evolution of the nation-shaping institution in the decades since.
The pop-up display features historical images, facts and quotes from key figures involved in the Medicare story over 40 years – from 1984 to 2024.
It also looks to the future, highlighting the improvements being made to strengthen Medicare and ensure it delivers a more personalised and joined up healthcare system.
QR codes on the display will encourage the public to explore new services like MyMedicare and Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
Throughout 2024 – Medicare’s 40th anniversary year – the display will be made available to communities across the country through civic venues like public libraries.
Further details of the timing and location of the exhibition will be provided in the coming weeks on the Medicare turns 40 page.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Many Australians may not know the story of Medicare and may not appreciate how fundamentally it has improved healthcare in this country.
“Before Medicare, 2 million Australians had no health cover at all. That’s 1 in 7 people who lived with the daily risk and worry that healthcare might see them lose the house or bankrupt them altogether.”
“This pop-up display at Parliament House today will help visiting school groups learn about the history – and future – of one of Australia’s most important social institutions.”
“I look forward to making this display available to communities around Australia as part of a civics education program and through partnerships with public libraries.”