Andrew Gee (Calare, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the:

(a) disgraceful rural doctor shortage crisis unfolding across rural Australia; and

(b) devastating impacts this crisis is having on the health of country Australians; and

(2) resolves to:

(a) take urgent action to end the crisis and get more doctors practising in rural, regional and remote communities; and

(b) deliver equality in access to doctors and medical services to country residents and country communities.

Sadly, this is not the first time I have risen in this House to put a national spotlight on the rural doctor shortage crisis that is having such a shocking impact on the health of residents in the Central West region of New South Wales and country communities around Australia. Put simply, our communities are at breaking point. The situation can only be described as catastrophic, and I will continue to speak on this crisis until immediate and real action takes place to fix it. Country people have shorter life expectancies than city people. It's both tragic and utterly unacceptable, but it's true, and there is no end in sight as this health crisis worsens every day.

On 29 May last year, I raised this crisis as a matter of public importance, calling on the urgent need for the government to immediately address the shortage of doctors in rural and regional Australia and deliver better health services for all Australians regardless of their postcode. In October last year, I started the End the Rural Doctor Shortage Crisis petition, calling on the Australian government to immediately fix the rural doctor shortage crisis and deliver more doctors to the bush without delay. The petition quickly gained over 13,000 signatures. On 10 October last year, I rose in question time to inform the Minister for Health and Aged Care about smaller towns in our electorate, such as Gulgong, that are being left without doctors and those that are closing their books to new patients. Book closures are happening in smaller communities, such as Molong and Canowindra, but also larger ones, such as Mudgee, Orange and Bathurst. The waiting time to see a GP in Wellington is now about two months. The pressure on our doctors, emergency departments and communities is immense.

In November last year, I again raised this issue in question time, where I highlighted the unfolding crisis and asked the minister when this appalling situation would be fixed and if he would come to the region to meet with local doctors and concerned residents to see the shocking effects this crisis is having. On 25 November last year, I introduced my Doctors for the Bush Bill 2024 in the parliament. This bill was simple and straightforward and would have once again ensured that country areas had priority for overseas trained doctors, who would have to work there for up to 10 years. It would have alleviated the rural doctor shortage crisis, ensuring equitable health care for rural, regional and remote Australians. Unbelievably, the National Party, the Liberal Party and the Labor Party all failed to support the bill. This was extremely disappointing, particularly with respect to the National Party. They say they want action to get more doctors to the bush but don't vote that way in parliament. My bill would have given country areas the same priority for overseas trained doctors that they had before the 2022 election. In other words, it was the previous Liberal and National parties' policy, and they still refused to vote for it in this House. It's yet more proof of a party losing its way.

This unfolding rural health crisis secured further national attention when, on 17 December last year, ACurrent Affair aired a story on the crisis. We heard from local Mudgee GP Dr Edward Lee, who said:

It is at a crisis level. It's a disaster for the patients of Mudgee and the surrounding regions.

One Mudgee resident suffering from end-of-life emphysema and asthma said, 'It's like living in a third-world country.' When asked how this made her feel, she responded:

Well, my end might be coming a bit quicker.

While I've had constructive conversations with the Minister for Health and Aged Care and also the assistant minister, I again bring this issue to the House because urgent action is needed now. This rural doctor shortage crisis is a disgrace. Country people are being treated as second-class citizens. Immediate action is needed, and I call on this House to take it as a matter of urgency. I'm very pleased that the member for Mayo is joining me to second this motion because she knows how devastating this crisis is for country patients and country communities. Action is needed on both sides of the aisle, and I call on all members of this House to support this motion. I commend it to the House.

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