Jim Turnour (Leichhardt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also have a question for the Minister for Health and Ageing. I thank the minister for her recent visit to Cairns in my electorate of Leichhardt. Health is a significant and important issue up there and it was particularly pleasing to hear the announcement of the successful organisation that will build a $5 million GP superclinic. These infrastructure investments are important all across the country but particularly in an electorate like mine. My electorate has rapidly growing areas, such as the southern suburbs of Cairns, that need new health services to tackle many of the chronic illnesses we experience in this country.

You can build infrastructure but you also have to provide the workforce to work in the new clinics. I would like the minister to outline and expand upon the Rudd government’s $134.4 million rural and remote workforce package. You spoke about that when you came to my electorate. I know there are benefits in terms of attracting and providing incentives for doctors to come to places like Cairns, Cape York and other remote areas of Australia. I understand that the previous government was working on 20-year-old figures. I would appreciate it if you could update me and other members on the real benefits of our workforce package to electorates like mine and electorates all across the country.

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