THE HON. MARK BUTLER MP

MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGED CARE

THE HON. EMMA MCBRIDE MP

ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR RURAL AND REGIONAL HEALTH

SUSAN TEMPLEMAN MP

MEMBER FOR MAQUARIE

The Albanese Government has acted on its promise to make it easier for people in Macquarie to see a doctor in their community.

The Government is delivering on its election commitment to better support communities across the country where there is a GP shortfall, such as in Macquarie, meaning local practices will now be able to recruit from a much bigger pool of doctors.

Updating the Distribution Priority Areas (DPA) will see more than 700 areas with either full or partial DPA classification across Australia.

This is a result of the Albanese Government’s election commitment to provide automatic DPA classification to regional centres as classified as Modified Monash (MM) 2, as well as maintaining exceptional circumstances DPA classifications.

Because international medical graduates and overseas trained doctors are only able to access Medicare if they work in a DPA area, a DPA classification means practices in DPA areas have access to more doctors who can work for the local community. 

All 707 areas in need across the country, including Macquarie, will have priority access to this pool.

In Macquarie, the update will mean practices in the Blue Mountains, and most practices in the Hawkesbury, will be able to recruit overseas trained and bonded medical program doctors to the region to help address shortages.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said: “Delivering on this election promise means thousands of Australians who live outside our capital cities will be more easily able to see a GP when they need to. This was a simple change to help these areas that the previous Government refused to make.”

Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride, said: “As a pharmacist of 20 years and a local MP, I know the importance of quality health care close to home.

“I look forward to working with GPs, the training colleges, and jurisdictions to find ongoing solutions to health access challenges faced by rural and regional communities.”

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said the announcement was great news for overstretched GPs and residents across the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.

“Doctors particularly in the Blue Mountains have been calling for reform of the system ever since the previous Liberal/Nationals Government stripped everywhere east of Blackheath of GP priority status in 2019,” Ms Templeman said.

“I see first-hand the impact that a lack of GP services has on our community, a situation that has only been made worse by COVID. Under this initiative, we will now have access to a broader pool of available GPs, which means improved access to quality care for our region.

“I am very pleased to see the government delivering on this much-needed commitment.”

ENDS