Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

to move:

That the House:

(1)

supports long term viability of regional and rural medical practices, hospitals and services;

(2)

notes with concern the failure of state governments to provide adequate health services for Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas, particularly in relation to cross border health;

(3)

acknowledges the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the significant contribution it makes by providing aeromedical emergency and primary health care services to people who live, work and travel in regional and remote Australia;

(4)

calls on the Australian Government to eliminate inequality in healthcare access and services experienced by those living in rural and remote areas by:

(a)

increasing the recruitment and retention of rural medical practitioners and health care professionals;

(b)

assisting Australians who live in regional, rural and remote areas with the cost of travel to specialist medical appointments in capital cities and regional centres; and

(c)

providing adequate funding to maintain and expand small rural hospitals and health services and their maternity and other procedural services.

10/11/2008 10383Monday, 10 November 2008

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The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms AE Burke) took the chair at 4 pm.

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