Page 607 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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MR SMYTH: Minister, the report also shows that the proportion of people delaying or not seeing a GP in the ACT, due to cost, almost doubled between 2009 and 2010 and is the highest in the nation. Why have you failed to address this issue in the ACT or with your federal colleagues?
MS GALLAGHER: We have not. We have funded a program of $12 million going in to support general practice and we have opened the walk-in centres. That is precisely to deal with cost issues for families for GP-type presentations or for presentations of lower acuity. That is exactly what the ACT government have done. Based on some of the data that we have seen, we are looking to expand that model out into the community so that families in the north and south of Canberra can have seven-days-a-week out-of-hours access to primary health care at no cost.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you have asked your question. Mr Hanson, a supplementary.
MR HANSON: Minister, why have you failed to work successfully with your federal Labor colleagues to address the low number of bulk-billing GPs in the ACT?
MS GALLAGHER: I have not failed. That is exactly what I have been doing—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! You have asked your question.
MS GALLAGHER: —over the last three years, working with the commonwealth to provide real, long-term sustainable solutions for our primary healthcare system. That is why we have supported the Medicare local. That is why we have supported the walk-in centre model. That is why we are providing scholarships for GPs at ANU. That is why we have supported extra GP training places. That is why we are providing grants to general practice so that they can recruit extra GPs to the territory.
I would draw members’ attention to the fact that the Medicare local, in discussions with me—and I am sure they have these with Mr Hanson—are suggesting that there is an easing of pressure on GPs. Indeed, what we are seeing at the moment is that some clinics are actually advertising for patients. So tell me that that is not a difference to this time last year.
MR SPEAKER: Stop the clocks, thank you. Ms Gallagher, one moment. We are only 16 minutes into question time and the level of interjections today is extremely high. I will start warning members shortly.
Ms Gallagher: Bullies at work.
Mr Hargreaves: A supplementary.
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