Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Historic $48 Million Rural Health PlanIn the small township of Ballan, Liberal Leader, Ted Baillieu, today announced an unprecedented $48 million package to address country Victoria’s doctor shortage. By Ted Baillieu - Leader of the Opposition - 27th June 2006 - Back to News Releasing the Liberal Party’s Country Doctors Policy at the Ballan District Soldiers’ Memorial Bush Nursing Hospital with the Shadow Minister for Health, Helen Shardey, and Liberal candidate for Ballarat East, Geoff Hayes, Mr Baillieu committed a Liberal Government to reversing the shortage of general practitioners across country Victoria.
"Today we commit $48 million over four years to train, attract and keep doctors in the country where they are urgently needed," Mr Baillieu said.
"We recognise the vital service medical practitioners provide to country Victorians. Country communities have been let down by Labor after seven years of wasted opportunity.
Key points of the Liberal Health Launch - Country Doctors Policy include:
- a $12.6 million plan to attract 150 doctors from interstate and overseas
- establish a Practice Support Fund to assist communities to provide practice infrastructure, including building new practices where doctors cannot be atrracted or maintaining practices that would otherwise close as practitioners retire or leave the area
- offer a relocation package for interstate and international doctors
- create a specialised recruitment unit in London
- a $12.6 million package that will more than double the on-call and after-hours payments received by each hospital - up from $28,000 to $60,000
- a commitment of $2.1 million for locum support to give country doctors the recreational and professional development leave they need
- $2 million toward procedural and professional development
- $10.7 million for the creation of 40 country doctor scholarships yearly
- $8 million in recurrent and capital support for clinical placement
"With the doctor shortfall in country Victoria close to 100, the Liberal Party has a comprehensive plan to reverse the trend," Mr Baillieu said.
"This is not only about great policy - it’s about reconnecting with Victoria’s heartland."
Doctor shortages (vacancies) in rural and regional Victoria
|
Anglesea 1
Ararat 1
Ballan 1
Ballarat 4
Beaufort 1
Benalla 1
Bendigo 10
Boort 1
Bright 1
Broadford 1
Camperdown 1
Cobram 1
Cohuna 1
Colac 2
Cowes 1
Daylesford 1
Drouin 1
Echuca 2
Edenhope 1
Euroa 1
Foster 1
Kerang 2
Lakes Entrance 1
Lancefield 1
Leongatha 1
Mallacoota 1
Mansfield 2
Metung 1
Mooroopna 1
Mount Beauty 1
|
Myrtleford 1
Numurkah 1
Nhill 1
Orbost 1
Ouyen 1
Robinvale 1
Portland 3
Rutherglen 1
Sale 1
Seymour 1
Shepparton 4
Stawell 1
Strathfieldsaye 1
St Arnaud 1
Swan Hill 2
Tallangatta 1
Timboon 1
Torquay 1
Traralgon 2
Warrnambool 5
Wallan 1
Wangaratta 1
Warburton 1
Wedderburn 1
Winchelsea 1
Wodonga 1
Wonthaggi 1
Yarram 2
Yarrawonga 2 |
The Department of Human Services estimates 4113 Victorian doctors will retire by 2012, to be replaced by just 2784 graduates. The shortage will be exacerbated in country Victoria where 10 percent of doctors are 65 or older.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
Related Articles- Martin Cameron says Labor fails on crime, wasting millions on machete bins instead of protecting Gippsland
Crime in Latrobe has surged under Labor, with Moe incidents up 26% and retail theft 65%. Nationals' Martin Cameron says only their Safer Communities Plan will restore safety. - Southern Rural Water upgrades over meters across Gippsland to improve accuracy and fair water management
Southern Rural Water is replacing 1,000+ outdated meters across southern Victoria by 2026, boosting accuracy, compliance, and fair water management under national standards - with no cost to customers. - Southern Rural Water declares spill entitlement in MID, boosting farmers' allocations as Lake Glenmaggie nears capacity
Southern Rural Water has declared a spill for Macalister Irrigation District customers until 16 September, providing water above 100% allocation as Lake Glenmaggie nears capacity at 98% following strong winter inflows. - Southern Rural Water urges water users to monitor, manage, and comply as Spring forecast warns above-average rainfall
The Bureau predicts above-average spring rainfall and warmer temperatures across eastern Australia. Southern Rural Water urges monitoring usage, maintaining bores, and following regulations to ensure fair, efficient water management. - Victorian Health Department sets Gippsland priorities, access, workforce, safety, shared services, and mental health expansion
The Victorian Department of Health has set four Gippsland health priorities: access, workforce, safety, and shared services, while highlighting mental health needs and significant workforce investment at Warragul's regional health leaders' forum. - Nationals' $100M Safer Communities Plan targets crime crisis with tough laws and prevention programs across Gippsland
Martin Cameron backed a $100 million Safer Communities Plan, promising tougher laws and prevention programs to tackle Victoria's crime crisis, restore community safety, and support at-risk youth, contrasting Labor's cuts. - Danny O'Brien warns Bayside Health merger threatens Gippsland communities, confirming hidden health service consolidation
Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's Bayside Health merger, warning it will reduce local hospital autonomy, limit community input, and risk services for Gippsland residents, prioritising bureaucratic cost-saving over patient care. - Baw Baw Shire Council returns 37 cultural artefacts to Lardil people in historic Mornington Island repatriation
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss led a historic journey to Mornington Island, repatriating 37 cultural artefacts to the Lardil People, marking a significant step toward reconciliation and cultural heritage restoration. - Melina Bath criticised Labor's plan to create new national parks, locking out long-term bush users
Liberals and Nationals oppose Labor's plan to convert 65,000 hectares into national parks, citing unfair exclusion of bush users despite strong opposition and a 40,000-signature petition against the proposal. - Have Your Say on Wonthaggi structure plan review aiming to guide growth, community needs and opportunities
Bass Coast Shire Council is reviewing the Wonthaggi Structure Plan. Have your say on the town's growth, housing, jobs, heritage, and future opportunities to help shape Wonthaggi as Bass Coast regional hub. - East Gippsland Shire backs $15M Bairnsdale Airport upgrade to boost emergency response and healthcare services regionally
East Gippsland Shire Council has backed a $15 million Bairnsdale Airport upgrade, extending the runway to boost emergency response, healthcare services, and regional aviation, supported by government funding and health agencies. - Labor government delivers $2.73M Sale Hospital upgrade, modernising Community Services building for Gippsland healthcare staff
The Allan Labor government is delivering a $2.73 million upgrade to Sale Hospital's historic Community Services Building, modernising facilities for healthcare workers, patients, and students through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund. - Bass Coast Council launches mid-term review of Climate Change Action Plan, celebrating achievements and inviting community input
Bass Coast Shire Council is reviewing its Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2030, celebrating renewable energy achievements and inviting community feedback through surveys, pop-up sessions, engagement events, and a special film screening. - Baw Baw Shire Council endorses 2026 - 2029 Domestic Animal Management Plan to promote safety, welfare, responsible ownership
Baw Baw Council has endorsed the 2026-2029 Domestic Animal Management Plan to promote responsible pet ownership, enhance animal welfare, ensure community safety, and guide strategic animal management over the next four years. - Wellington Shire Council seeks feedback on the Domestic Animal Management Plan Review until 24 September 2025
Wellington Shire Council's draft Domestic Animal Management Plan outlines priorities for responsible pet ownership, safety, and welfare, inviting community feedback from 28 August to 24 September 2025. - Rokeby to Noojee $4M trail upgrade officially opens, enhancing accessibility, safety, and visitor experience across region
A $4 million upgrade of the Rokeby to Noojee Trail has officially opened, delivering improved surfaces, facilities, signage and lookouts, with $3 million Victorian government funding and strong community contributions celebrated. - Princes Highway $2M upgrade improves safety and access for pedestrians at Lakes Entrance and Kalimna
Nearly $2 million in joint government funding will upgrade Princes Highway at Lakes Entrance and Kalimna, improving pedestrian safety, access, and traffic flow with new medians, lighting, safety platforms, and path reconstruction. - Cowes Foreshore Precinct Project begins, for safer, more accessible visitor experience from $9.6M shared investment
Work has begun on the $9.6 million Cowes Foreshore Precinct Project, delivering staged upgrades to create a safer, more accessible, pedestrian-friendly destination while supporting businesses and preserving Cowes' vibrant visitor appeal. - Darren Chester celebrates completion of $2M Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve redevelopment ahead of grand final
Darren Chester welcomed the $2 million Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve redevelopment, delivering modern facilities, improved amenities, and new courts, officially opening September 6 as the community hosts its first grand final in 25 years. - Darren Chester welcomes $6.2M Traralgon Recreation Reserve redevelopment with upgraded facilities for Latrobe Valley sports clubs
Darren Chester welcomed the $6.2 million Traralgon Recreation Reserve redevelopment, providing modern changerooms and upgraded facilities through joint funding to support Latrobe Valley sports and long-term community participation. - Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem. - Allan Labor government backs regional footy and netball with $1.5M from 2025-26 Country Football and Netball Program
The Allan Labor government is investing $1.5 million in Morwell sports clubs through the Country Football and Netball Program, while opening new grants to upgrade regional facilities and boost community participation. - Tim Bull slams Labor's cuts to 'Youth Crime Prevention', unveils $100M Safer Communities Plan
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticised Labor's youth crime prevention cuts, promoting The Nationals' $100 million Safer Communities Plan combining tougher laws with prevention programs to improve safety and restore community confidence. - Darren Chester welcomes nearing completion of $2.2M Ensay Recreation Reserve redevelopment project
Darren Chester welcomed nearing completion of the $2.2 million Ensay Recreation Reserve redevelopment, praising community volunteers. The project delivers modern facilities, boosting sport, tourism, resilience, and connections. - Baw Baw Shire Council appoints experienced leader Tilla Buden as new chief executive officer commencing on November 2025
Baw Baw Shire Council has appointed Tilla Buden as its new CEO, bringing extensive leadership experience and community focus. She will formally commence in the role on 17 November 2025.
|
|
