Media Release
13 November 2009
Health reform must start with The Bush
Council of the National Rural Health Alliance will next week converge on Parliament House to
alert MPs and Senators of the need to grasp the opportunity for health reform in rural and remote
communities.
“The Government’s ‘listening tour’ is winding down and the options for reform have been spelled
out. Now is the time for action to begin and we want it to happen first in rural and remote areas,"
said Alliance Chair, Dr Jenny May.
“There are two main reasons why health reform should start with us,” Dr May said.
“First, the bush needs reform most urgently. Health in rural remote areas is poorer and health
services less accessible. If we put the right reforms in place we can move towards equivalent
health and health service access right across the nation.
“Second, significant reform will work best in rural and remote areas. Natural communities of
interest and regions are stronger in rural areas. The will to overcome institutional barriers is
stronger: we are used to sparse resources and have a can-do attitude,” Dr May said.
Next Monday’s meetings are a crucial part of the annual get-together of leading rural and remote
health professionals and consumer advocates from around Australia. Despite a busy day in
Parliament more than 30 MPs and Senators, including Ministers and the Shadow Minister for
Health, will meet with members of Council.
“Issues to be raised go to the heart of the unevenness in the current distribution of health and
wellbeing in Australia,” said Gordon Gregory, Executive Director of the Alliance.
“The Alliance is trying to ensure that the current environment of change and development in the
health sector will favour better health in The Bush,” he said. “There are a range of plans and
strategies in place, including those for workforce distribution, maternity services, mental health,
regional cancer centres, primary care and the prevention of illness.
“While this is encouraging, we need to ensure they help turn around a situation in which people in
rural and remote areas are missing out on their fair share of the health dollar,” Mr Gregory said.
Contacts
Dr Jenny May - Chair: 0427 885 337
Marshall Wilson - Media: 0419 664 155
NEWS 
