Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The closure of GP medical practices in Imbil and Pomona by a Brisbane based company leaves these communities without access to a local doctor. One of the reasons cited for the closures is the Albanese government's changes to distribution priority areas, which now make it easier to recruit doctors in metropolitan areas but much harder to bring them to regional communities. Another reason is the indexation of Medicare rebates, which haven't kept pace with rising cost pressures and don't adequately compensate GPs.

Imbil's medical centre has served the Mary Valley for 20 years. It's a growing community, but the medical cetnre's closure has triggered Imbil's pathology to close, and we risk losing other health services in the town. With no other GP practice nor any public transport to get to one, Imbil's elderly, infirmed and ill are unable to travel the 30 kilometres to Gympie to get to a GP. Pomona's medical clinic closure leaves its 3,000 patients with no doctor, and they have to travel to Cooroy for further GP access.

Every election, Labor promises to save Medicare, but they're letting bulk-billing rates drop and vital GP clinics close. We need immediate action to ensure people can access a local doctor when they need it. The government must fix this crisis so people can access a local doctor when they need it.