Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Green, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by last sitting day in March 2022:

The provision of general practitioner (GP) and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural and regional Australians, with particular reference to:

(a) the current state of outer metropolitan, rural, and regional GPs and related services;

(b) current state and former Government reforms to outer metropolitan, rural and regional GP services and their impact on GPs, including policies such as:

(i) the stronger Rural Health Strategy,

(ii) Distribution Priority Area and the Modified Monash Model (MMM) geographical classification system,

(iii) GP training reforms, and

(iv) Medicare rebate freeze;

(c) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctor shortages in outer metropolitan, rural and regional Australia; and

(d) any other related matters impacting outer metropolitan, rural, and regional access to quality health services.