Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced $227 million for 29 additional Medicare urgent-care clinics and $361 million for mental health.

“Since June last year, almost 400,000 visits have been made to our 58 clinics in suburbs and regions all over Australia.

“And because these clinics open early and close late, more than one in three visits were outside normal working hours.

We are “taking pressure off emergency departments and making it easier for Australians to access free healthcare”, he says. “Making Medicare stronger means doing better on mental health too.”

The treasurer says $2.2 billion will be spent on aged care, including $1.2 billion to improve systems.

“As more Australians live longer, healthier lives, demand for aged care services is growing – and the sort of care we need is changing.

“Ensuring dignity and security for older Australians means allowing people to choose the care that’s right for them – including staying in their own home.

“That’s why we are investing $531 million for another 24,000 home care packages, giving more Australians that choice,” he says.

On NDIS, the treasurer says the budget provides $469 million to keep working with the disability community and the states and territories, and to crack down on fraud and exploitation.