Rural and remote health – time for leadership

With two weeks to go before the federal election, both major parties need to show real leadership on rural and remote health, according to Professor John Wakerman, chair of the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA).

“There is too much focus on specific electorates rather than national plans and policies. With the election almost upon us, rural voters are entitled to expect the Coalition and Labor to reveal their overarching approach to the development and sustainability of rural and remote communities,” he said.

“People in rural and remote electorates are thirsty for leadership and a vision for improved and more equitable access to services in the bush. Voters want their surplus invested in improved services, not more tax cuts.

“A country is more than just an economy. Where is the vision and plan for a better country?”

Professor Wakerman said many elements were affecting the future of non-metropolitan communities and the socio-economic characteristics of rural people. They include drought, water shortages, climate change, loss of services, an unprecedented mining boom, degraded infrastructure, the prospect of relocation of agricultural production and aspects of Indigenous affairs such as the future of outstations.

“The Australian government will need to consider all of these elements in order to provide certainty for businesses and communities in the bush,” Professor Wakerman said.

His comments came with the release of yesterday’s Alliance Election Scorecard that shows the Coalition – with a mere six points out of a maximum 20 – still lagging badly behind other parties. The Liberal/National parties are the only ones not yet to have committed to work with the States and Territories in agreeing to a national health policy and plan.

Such a collaborative approach would put an end to ‘the blame game’ and begin work to reform Australia’s health system by tackling jointly, within a national framework, challenges relating to workforce supply and distribution, hospitals, access and equity.

Professor Wakerman repeated the call for a national rural undergraduate placement scheme to help attract students to rural and remote areas as an investment in our future rural workforce.

“University Departments of Rural Health are another valuable and successful national program and should be extended to all regions,” Professor Wakerman said.

The revised scorecard shows the Greens and Democrats heading the tally with 15 out of a possible 20 points, Labor on 10 followed by the Coalition on six points.