Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Furner for his question and for his interest in rural health. When it comes to health and hospitals the Gillard Labor government delivers to all Australians, including those living in rural and regional areas. That means better access to health services and infrastructure and more health professionals on the ground. Through the regional priorities round of the Health and Hospitals Fund the Gillard government is bringing modern practice and better facilities to remote and regional Australia. Through the regional fund, 63 projects are sharing in $1.3 billion in funding. This means that facilities in Tennant Creek, Townsville, Port Lincoln, Sheffield, Kerang, Geraldton, Bega and many more will receive invaluable funding for better services, increased infrastructure and economic development. The priority round builds on the $3.2 billion already allocated through the Health and Hospitals Fund right across Australia, where one-third was given to regional Australia. The Gillard government is delivering 24 regional cancer centre projects, including two additional centres announced in the 2011 budget, for Geelong and Albury-Wodonga. While the government is delivering spending for infrastructure and getting the best facilities for our region, we are also ensuring that our regions have health professionals on the front line delivering in those facilities. To attract health professionals to our regional areas we are delivering training and incentive packages. The government's $134.4 million Rural Health Workforce Strategy is designed to encourage doctors to work in isolated rural and remote communities and to keep them there. As a result of this strategy in 2011, almost 8,000 doctors were assessed as eligible to receive an incentive payment for the first time.