Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can. The government's investment in our transformational $550 million Stronger Rural Health Strategy reflects our commitment to improving access to quality health services for people living out in rural and regional Australia. Through better teaching, training, recruitment and retention, the strategy will deliver more than 3,000 doctors and 3,000 nurses and allied health professionals over the next decade. We're already seeing elements of this package rolling out, commencing from 1 July this year, addressing the oversupply of doctors in some urban areas and shortages in rural and remote parts of Australia.

The rising cost of the health system is unsustainable and there will be greater incentives for non-vocationally recognised GPs to obtain those much-needed specialist qualifications. As part of this package, the Royal Flying Doctor Service will also roll out a new mental health outreach program in January, part of our $84.1 million additional funding package for that organisation. Our thoughts and prayers are with our farmers in drought.