ANNE STANLEY MP 
OPPOSITION WHIP 
MEMBER FOR WERRIWA

13 September 2021

SENATE INQUIRY INTO GP SHORTAGE

Following on from the overwhelming response to the Save Medicare petition circulated in Werriwa earlier this year; Anne Stanley MP encourages her community to make a submission to the current Senate Inquiry into GP shortages.

Labor called for the inquiry in a bid to investigate the critical lack of doctors across outer metropolitan, rural and regional Australia.

“The inquiry will investigate our primary health network. Too many people are being forced to wait weeks to see a GP – if they can see a GP at all. And the problem seems to be getting worse.

“COVID-19 has highlighted the holes and gaps in our health care system, and none are more obvious than the shortage of GPs and other health services in our community.

“But this issue isn’t new, people in Werriwa have been battling a critical lack of GPs for far too long.

“This inquiry will investigate why our region is particularly affected by a lack of GPs and should come up with practical solutions to fix it.

“This needs to be more than another box ticking exercise. Our communities are seeking firm action and a commitment to solutions.”

The Senate Inquiry will examine the Government’s current classification system, the stronger Rural Health Strategy, GP training reforms, and the effects of the Medicare rebate freeze.

The Inquiry will also assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctor shortages in outer metropolitan, rural, and regional Australia. 

“Thank you to the GPs who have been working tirelessly to support our communities and who also took time to meet with me and outline the issues affecting their practices and raise their concerns” Ms Stanley said.

You can make a submission to the inquiry here:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/OnlineSubmission