Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bilyk for her supplementary question regarding the Rudd government’s record investment in our doctors and specialists. We are providing $632 million to train a record number of doctors over the next 10 years. We will deliver 5,500 new or training general practitioners, 680 medical specialists and 5,400 work experience pre-vocational GP program places. Those opposite are disingenuous when they claim to care about rural and regional areas. When they were in government they ripped $1 billion from the public hospital system and capped GP places. This created a situation where shortages are impacting on 59 per cent of all Australians, in towns across Australia including Ballarat, Dayboro, Coffs Harbour and Yea. (Time expired)