Media Release
Nurse Practitioners astounded at Shadow Minister Dutton’s lack of insight
The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) has urged Peter Dutton the Shadow
Minister for Health to support the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse
Practitioners) Bill that is currently before the federal Parliament. This Bill has the full support
of peak nursing and midwifery organisations. Any further delay of this timely landmark
legislation will adversely affect opportunities for the Australian public to access safe and
effective nursing and midwifery care.
Nurse practitioners can already safely prescribe medicines but patients cannot access
rebates on medicines and tests they prescribe necessitating out of pocket expenses for
patients or double-consultations. ACNP Vice-President Professor Andrew Cashin says,
“Nurses and midwives represent two percent of the voting public and at this point we can
predictably say they support the progressive Labor government who have introduced
landmark reforms for nursing, midwifery and the Australian community.”
-ends-
For information or comment: Professor Andrew Cashin 0414 577 770
NEWS 
