Anderson's commitment to help councils retain GPs welcomed by ALGA
24 September 2004
Today's announcement that the Coalition would provide $15m over three years to help rural councils recruit and retain GPs has been welcomed by the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Mike Montgomery.
"This is good news for those councils that have to step in and purchase surgeries and housing in a bid to recruit or keep GPs in their communities. Some have even purchased entire hospitals in order to keep them open and retain specialists in their district," Cr Montgomery said.
"The Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund - announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson as part of today's Investing in stronger regions package - will help offset the costs faced by local councils in their bid to keep doctors in the bush.
"While primary health care is not a responsibility of local government, for many communities, if the council doesn't step in, no one will.
"We also welcome the commitment of a further $10.5m over four years to provide more practice nurses in rural areas to carry out pap smears and other preventive health checks.
"ALGA has worked with the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the National Farmers' Federation, the Country Women's Association and the Health Consumers of Regional and Rural Australia to develop and promote a range of policies to improve rural health services. We are pleased to see some of these policies adopted today.
"ALGA also welcomes additional funding for two new regions under the Sustainable regions program and significant new funding to help educate children in rural and isolated areas.
"We also acknowledge the importance of the Coalition's landmark Roads to Recovery program to regional development and deeply appreciate the commitment by both the Coalition and the ALP to renew this program for a further four years from 1 July 2005," Cr Montgomery said.
