Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week is Youth Voice in Parliament Week, and I feel privileged to read a speech by 17-year-old Alison from my electorate of Indi. It's about regional health care, an issue that's very close to my heart. Alison says:

The basis of anyone's life is our health, and in rural and farming communities we suffer a severe lack of access to healthcare.

Within my area, I know of many people waiting months for a doctor's appointment. Emergency Departments are no better with extensive wait times even for those arriving by ambulance.

For my community, and the Australian public I wish to see this amended: to have greater level of access to adequate healthcare when needed and to enable those of us that live regionally to live full and healthy lives.

To achieve this, I ask that the government provide incentives for doctors to relocate to regional communities and grants to help with the expansion and improvement of regional practices.

This would give us in rural spaces the flexibility and quality in our medical centres we need to keep our lives running. This is a problem of all Australians; our healthcare system is supposed to serve all and currently it does not. Our Farmers are the lifeblood of our great country, feeding us, clothing us and looking after our land. It is time we look after them.