MEETING federal ministers to raise issues crucial to the Mallee is part of speaking up for regional Australia and building political relationships, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says.
Dr Webster met Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Kristy McBain, and separately with Minister for Early Childhood education Anne Aly, and Minister for Health Mark Butler to raise “significant issues affecting the day-to-day lives of residents across Mallee”.
“I spoke to the ministers about how the lack of childcare impinged further on our struggling workforce,” Dr Webster said.
“I told minister McBain that it was a no-brainer that childcare was having an ongoing detrimental impact on workforce shortages. I had raised the same issue with minister Aly when I met her last week.”
Also bringing up the issue of doctor shortages, Dr Webster said she isn’t convinced the ministers were aware of the concerns she raised with them before she brought them to their attention.
“I think they had an inkling, but I think it’s incredibly important that local MPs spruik the issues that their electorates are facing, particularly in regional settings.
“It is really incredibly important that we speak on behalf of our communities, that’s why they elect us, so that their voice can be heard,” Dr Webster told Gannawarra Times.
Dr Webster said the ministers listened to what she had to say,
but were keeping their cards close to their chests, particularly as the budget draws closer.
“They weren’t giving away any information, and I understand that, but it was still important and I was pleased that all three of them accepted a meeting to be able to talk about these issues.
“I think a lot of politics fundamentally is based off relationships, so building rapport, even with the Opposition, is something that is a common practice.
“If the government are prepared to meet with us and hear our concerns then it is a win-win for everyone.”
Dr Webster is also “deeply concerned” about ongoing issues affecting rural and regional health services and patients, arguing that the government must step in and provide solutions.
“I talked about the concept of matching provider numbers to postcodes of desperate need and the detrimental damage the expansion of the distribution priority areas will deliver to regional communities,” Dr Webster said.
A provider number is a site-specific number that is used to identify doctors’ practices as valid medical professionals who are authorised to make referrals to specialists so that patients can make a claim through Medicare. At present, doctors can get a provider number provided by the government with no strings attached.
“What we have is a maldistribution of doctors who set up their businesses in urban settings, in cities, and what we need them to do is to come out to the country,” Dr Webster said.
“What (the Nationals) would suggest is that a policy that should be looked at is that graduates are effectively provided an opportunity to get a provider number, but it is attached to postcodes of need.
“If they want to practise in the city, effectively they have got to wait until somebody moves out of the city or until they die or retire and the provider number becomes available.
“So it is just a matter of seeking a policy implementation that will see a redistribution of graduates.
“I understand it is a bit of a sledgehammer approach, but the fact is that there have been so many incentives provided over the years to encourage young graduates to go out to the regional centres … and they largely don’t.
“We still have a severe shortage of doctors, and it is a desperate measure, if you like, to take the opportunity to attach provider numbers to postcodes, but I think it is necessary.”
Dr Webster said she would keep advocating positions on issues affecting her electorate so that they might be resolved in the future.
“These are incredibly important issues to regional communities and we must have answers,” Dr Webster said.
“Ultimately it is a decision for the Labor government – they are in power, they have got to come up with the solutions.”
