Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I gave members the courtesy of writing them a letter asking for their view. Contrary to the member for Dickson’s view, many of his colleagues answered those letters. Many of those colleagues will be pleased to know that we have paid attention to their views. Eleven of the clinics have gone straight to an invitation to apply process, including the ones in Blacktown, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Nowra. I am sure that the members for Cowper and Gilmore will be pleased that those are going ahead.

But, following requests for further consultations in their electorates from a number of members, 13 clinics will have a consultation process begun before they go to the invitation to apply stage. This includes, for example, the electorate of Adelaide and the electorate of Bonner, where the Wyndham superclinic will have further consultations. Four further clinics for which the operators have already been identified, like in Jindabyne and Rockingham, will proceed immediately to negotiations with those identified operators.

This program is already delivering services to the community. More services are coming. More training is being provided. We are determined to make sure that if the community wants to see a GP they can access to one closer to their home and that students will be trained in their electorates. That is what this program is delivering.

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