Greens show the way on rural and remote health
The Greens, under the leadership of Senator Bob Brown, have committed strongly to most of the key priorities identified by the National Rural Health Alliance as being in the best interest of people in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Professor John Wakerman, chairperson of the Alliance, has expressed delight that through its representation in the Senate the Greens would support a range of activities designed to improve the health of people in country areas.
“If and when the Senate returns to the position in which the minor parties have the balance of power, there will be a reservoir of good ideas for the health of country people,” Professor Wakerman said.
“The Greens have been the first to indicate support for the top strategic priorities of the Alliance – a national inquiry into rural and remote communities and an explicit national health policy.
“They have also committed to the sort of long-term, well funded and collaborative work on Indigenous health which the Alliance and many others are hoping for,” Professor Wakerman said.
A summary of the Greens’ positions on the Alliance’s top 10 rural health priorities can be found by going to the www.ruralhealth.org.au website. It shows that, given the opportunity in the Senate, the Greens will also support additional rural scholarships for health sciences, better access to tertiary and vocational education in the regions, and extra places for dental students.
“These announcements from the Greens provide a new benchmark for the other political parties to match, with the Greens now scoring 15 out of 20 on the Alliance’s election scorecard,” said Professor Wakerman.
