Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I do appreciate the question that the member for Kennedy has asked. I think he makes a number of very telling points about the behaviour of the Beattie government. I do commend the concerns that he has—concerns which he shares with the member for Leichhardt, the member for Herbert and many others in this place—about improving health services and medical services in North Queensland. I can inform him that, under this government, the James Cook University medical school was established. Under this government, in 2004, the numbers of medical students at James Cook were increased. I was delighted just recently to go to the graduation of the first class of medical students from that fine school at that fine university.

I take on board the points which the member for Kennedy has made. I think I can assure him and other people concerned about this issue that this government is always looking at ways to increase our medical workforce. Certainly his representations—as well as the representations by the members for Leichhardt and Herbert—will be taken into account as long as the government continues to make decisions in respect of the medical workforce to the great benefit of the people of Far North Queensland.

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