David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to congratulate St George doctor Adam Coltzau on being awarded the Queensland General Practitioner of the Year and subsequently becoming a finalist for the national title. Taking out the Queensland award and being nominated for the national award are testament not only to Dr Coltzau's dedicated service to the medical profession but also to his commitment to rural Australia. He is a GP, anaesthetist and obstetrician working between the local St George Hospital, the St George Medical Centre and his outreach clinic in Bowen. Beyond his medical service to the St George community, Dr Coltzau is giving back to our new generation of doctors and, I have no doubt, inspiring rural practice throughout his commitment to rural medical training and health care as a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland.

As a young student, Dr Coltzau found himself in St George only to return a few years later as a junior medical officer. Dr Coltzau also regularly facilitates professional development meetings for other GPs within a 150-kilometre radius of St George to ensure health care in the region is at the cutting edge.

I have no doubt that today, in addition to expressing my personal congratulations and thanks to Dr Coltzau for his extensive and unwavering rural service, I am doing so on behalf of the people of the Balonne Shire. It is obviously crucial to recognise the hard work of our health professionals who work tirelessly across rural Australia, often in the most unique and challenging circumstances.

See this speech in context