Page 696 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 11 February 2009
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I think the issue we have to deal with is not necessarily around bulk-billing, although it is important for people who cannot afford to pay to see a GP to have access to bulk-billing. Many GPs that I work with will tell you that they know who those people are. If they are on their patient book, they will already bulk-bill them. GPs need to earn an income. The way they earn their income is to charge fees. That is the way they pay for their practice nurses, their admin overheads and earn an income derived from their business and have a business that is valued.
But there were some very significant concerns around setting up what they saw was government underwritten competition when they are in private business trying to make ends meet. I think there were some problems with the model and I know that was the difficult part of the election campaign, for everybody to articulate the arguments around that. But the real issue is access to GPs. I am not convinced that it is access to bulk-billing GPs. We need to improve access to GPs for the community and we are certainly working on that.
I could go on about this. I look forward to the health tour that we have organised for Friday. It is a shame that Mr Seselja and Mrs Dunne have had to pull out today because I have commissioned quite a number of health executives to spend the day with us demonstrating the ACT health system. I think we have 10 Assembly members now coming. I think that will be a very informative day and hopefully people can learn some of the good aspects of the ACT health system. I will oppose the motion.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (6.25): While I appreciate Mr Hanson’s concerns about the ACT’s health services, I will not be supporting his motion today. I believe the motion does not acknowledge the complexity of the situation which is facing the health system. The approach taken on the motion seems to be quite black and white. If we do not correctly identify what the key issues and problems are we cannot identify the solutions.
One of the biggest issues we encounter is that of workforce, including our ability to attract and retain qualified staff. This is not just an issue for the ACT but for Australia and most other countries. The solution does not just involve attracting doctors and nurses from other jurisdictions, as we then become competitors with other governments. I also wonder if it is fair for us to fight for medical staff, particularly from regional areas in Australia when these areas typically have very limited services available. This also applies to other countries, in particular, developing countries whose own people often lack even basic medical services.
A sustainable solution involves producing and retaining a local workforce, and I note that from about 2012 onwards there will be a significant increase in the number of medical students graduating and entering the workforce. There is also action on workforce planning occurring nationally and at a state and territory level as it is an issue which demands national attention and cooperation. The AMA report which Mr Hanson tabled today acknowledges:
… Australia is just one of many countries to have failed to train enough health professionals for the needs of their population. Worldwide competition for health professionals is increasing.
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