News
4 September, 2026
Residents urged to back call for reinstatement of urgent care service
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman is encouraging local residents to sign a petition launched by Goulburn Mulwaree deputy mayor Caitlin Flint to restore the city’s urgent care service.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman is encouraging local residents to sign a petition launched by Goulburn Mulwaree deputy mayor Caitlin Flint to restore the city’s urgent care service.
The Goulburn Urgent Care Clinic was closed at the end of June 2025 after just 12 months, despite providing an important service to the local community.
Three new urgent care clinics have been announced in the Eden-Monaro electorate since that time and Mrs Tuckerman has simply asked ‘Why has Goulburn been forgotten?’
Urgent care clinics are designed to offer timely treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries as an alternative to the emergency department.
Mrs Tuckerman said the Goulburn clinic had helped reduce pressure on the Goulburn Base Hospital and believes the community deserves to have it reinstated.
Cr Flint has made repeated calls for the service to be reinstated over the past 12 months and said the petition would provide an opportunity for local residents to have their voices heard and demonstrate the strength of community support for restoring this important healthcare service.
“I’m urging residents to get behind the petition and send a clear message that Goulburn deserves accessible and timely urgent healthcare close to home,” Cr Flint said.
“I believe the community deserves genuine engagement, clear answers and a commitment to restoring a vital healthcare service that residents relied upon.”
The petition will need 20,000 signatures by November 12 for it to be debated in Parliament.
It officially went live on Tuesday and attracted more than 350 signatures within a very short period of time.
Wendy Tuckerman MP, comments below.
Councillor Flint said council had taken the issue up with State and Federal Health Ministers as well as the Federal Member for Eden-Monaro but described their responses as “disappointing and – in many respects – insulting to the Goulburn community”.
Cr Flint said the two Health Ministers had basically pointed the finger at one another on the issue of funding while Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain had referred loosely to “contractual issues”.
Nobody has said the service is not actually needed.
Cr Flint just wants someone to commit to funding for the service.
“I don’t care which side of politics does it,” she said.
Council has already been in contact with local GP clinics and a number of them are open to hosting an acute service.
According to the petition, closure of the clinic has placed increased pressure on Goulburn Base Hospital's emergency department and local general practice services, forcing residents with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries to seek treatment through already stretched healthcare services.
It says Goulburn is a major regional centre servicing a large catchment area and deserves access to urgent healthcare.
“Despite the continued rollout of urgent care clinics in other regional communities, Goulburn remains without this vital service”.
It asks the Legislative Assembly to call on the NSW Government to:
· Commit to restoring an urgent care service in Goulburn as a matter of priority;
· Work with local healthcare providers, Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the Commonwealth Government to identify and support a suitable model for delivering urgent care services in the region;
· Ensure adequate funding is provided to establish and maintain a sustainable urgent care service that reduces demand on the emergency department and improves access to healthcare for local residents.
Mrs Tuckerman said every signature matters and will send a strong message to the NSW Government that Goulburn residents want and deserve access to a local urgent care service.
“This is about ensuring our community has timely healthcare when they need it most, and we encourage everyone across Goulburn Mulwaree to add their voice and support the campaign to have the service reopened,” Mrs Tuckerman said. The petition can be signed electronically at Sign ePetition | Parliament of NSW or physically at Mrs Tuckerman’s Goulburn electoral office at 190 Auburn Street.
Cr Flint said residents would also be able to sign the petition at local businesses and at a number of ‘pop up’ stalls in coming weeks - however details are yet to be confirmed.
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