Queensland Labor promises 50 new bulk-billing GP clinics if Miles government is re-elected
Sat 12 Oct
ABC News
A re-elected Miles government would fund 50 new bulk-billing GP clinics somewhere in Queensland, the ALP has announced.
The $365 million pledge would be funded from additional borrowing and aimed at alleviating pressures on household budgets and hospitals, according to a Labor media release.
The location of the clinics is yet be determined, but would be made in consultation with the health industry, with the government leasing space or constructing new facilities.
But the AMA Queensland said Labor's commitment, while well-intentioned, "shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the pressures facing existing practices".
"This announcement is a surprise and I am concerned that governments at all levels do not truly understand the operational costs of a general practice," AMAQ president Dr Nick Yim said.
"We do not have an infrastructure shortage — we have a workforce shortage.
"We urgently need more doctors, nurses, allied healthcare practitioners and administration staff to keep our existing clinics open."
Labor Health Minister Shannon Fentiman
Shannon Fentiman says consultation with GPs would continue. (ABC News)
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said she had consulted with AMAQ ahead of the announcement.
She said they would consult with GPs on where there is a lack of bulk billing, including locations in Central Queensland and the far north.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners welcomed the promised investment, but spokesman Dr Bruce Willett warned it "needs to be done carefully".
LNP launches a $590m health pitch
The LNP has unveiled its $590 million health plan, but Labor has accused the party of "handing in our homework".
"We do have some concerns about implementation, and we look forward to consulting with the government," he said.
GP clinics are typically a Commonwealth responsibility, but Queensland Labor said the announcement had been prompted by a rise in the number of people putting off GP visits because of the cost gap on the Medicare rebate.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 7 per cent of people who needed to see a GP in 2022-23 delayed or avoided the doctor due to cost, which was double the number of the previous year.
Affording healthcare or paying rent
Labor leader Steven Miles said poor access to primary care was a concern.
"It's a major cost-of-living issue. People are choosing between going to the doctor and paying the rent.
"It has to stop. I want Queenslanders to be able to access a bulk-billing doctor.
"These 50 clinics will mean more Queenslanders will have a bulk-billing clinic, no matter where they live."
Marilyn Anstiss was one of the 40 per cent of Queensland patients who were left languishing on ambulance stretchers for more than 30 minutes before being admitted to hospital.
This second week of Labor's election campaign has been dominated by health announcements.
The government has pledged to hire almost 16 thousand new frontline health workers in the next four years, if re-elected.
The LNP has also been campaigning hard on health, labelling the public system in crisis.
It's promised to reduce Queensland's ambulance ramping rate to 30 per cent in the next term of government, down from 45 per cent, if elected.
Other measures in its almost $600 million health plan include showing health data in real time and hiring more than 34,000 new health staff by 2032.
Labor has said it wants to get ramping back to 28 per cent — as it was before COVID-19 — if re-elected, but hasn't given a time frame to achieve that.
Meanwhile the Greens have promised to establish 200 free public health clinics, at a cost of $4.75 billion over four years.
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