GP RE-RE-ANOUNCEMENT SHOWS GALLAGHER IS OUT OF IDEAS
“Today’s re-announcement of last year’s GP budget plan, which was already a re-announcement of an election promise, shows that Katy Gallagher has run out of ideas and has little new to offer Canberra families struggling to access a GP. To dress the announcement for GP scholarships as ‘new’ when it was actually part of last years’ budget – and an announcement that wasn’t delivered upon - is cynical pre-budget spin,” Shadow Health Minister Jeremy Hanson said.
“Although I re-welcome this re-announcement, it is clearly evidence that Katy Gallagher is more interested in media appearances than substantive new policies that will address our chronic GP shortage.
“As a result of inaction from ACT Labor we have the lowest number of GP’s per capita in Australia. It is only now, after eight years of pain for the Canberra community, that Katy Gallagher is finally acknowledging that there are initiatives that she can implement but the reality is that it may now be up to 10 years before we address the GP shortage because of this Government’s inaction.
“What we are seeing is a government that is playing catch-up on this issue but that has no sense of urgency. Why has it taken so long for these scholarships to take effect? What has she been waiting for?
“I would hope that we will see something more substantive from Katy Gallagher than re-announcements of last year’s policy in the coming budget.
“If she needs inspiration or guidance then I recommend that, for starters, she review the final report of the GP Task Force, which has 30 recommendations aimed at helping to address the ACT’s chronic GP shortage,” said Mr Hanson.
28 April 2010
