Media Release

The Rudd Government will invest $339 million to increase GP training places to record levels to deliver better health and better hospitals for all Australians.

Due to historic lack of investment, we inherited a situation where workforce shortages are impacting upon 59 per cent of all Australians.

In addition, while the number of medical students graduating from our universities will double over the next five years, there has not been a sufficient increase in GP training places to enable more graduating medical students to become General Practitioners.

The Government will raise the number of places available for medical graduates to train to become a General Practitioner to 1,200 per year by 2014.

This historic investment will:

• double the annual limit of 600 places in place when the Government took office.
• provide a 50 per cent increase on the Government's previous commitment to increase places to 812 per year from 2011.
• deliver around 5 million extra services by 2013, when combined with other investments undertaken since the Government took office.

To maintain current levels of GP and primary care services alone, it is estimated that an additional 3,000 GPs will be needed by 2020.

Australia also needs to reduce its high hospitalisation rates, which is currently double that of Canada and significantly higher than the United States, the UK and New Zealand.

This demands more GPs, not only to meet projected shortfalls, but to improve access and availability of GP services and help take pressure off the hospitals system.

The additional GP training places will commence from 2011 and combined with our existing investments will ensure that there are an additional 1,375 GPs practising or in training by 2013.
Over time, these investments will result in a total of 5,500 extra GPs practicing or in training by 2020.

This major investment will build on the Commonwealth's commitment to taking full funding and policy responsibility for all GP services and primary care as part of the National Health and Hospitals Network.

It will ensure that Commonwealth funded GP services have the workforce needed to properly treat Australians through less expensive primary care services rather than shunting them into expensive hospital services.

This investment is part of our major focus on primary care.

This critical investment will be included and offset across the forward estimates in the 2010-11 Budget, consistent with the Government's strict fiscal strategy.
 

The Rudd Government will invest $145 million to train more specialist doctors where the community needs them, to deliver better health and better hospitals for all Australians.

The Government inherited a situation where estimates from the Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee and the Medical Colleges suggest there will be a shortage of around 1,280 specialists by 2020.

The Government's investments will mean that this shortfall will be met.

These investments will:

• more than double the current number places from 360 to 900 by 2014, when combined with existing Rudd Government investments; and
• deliver an additional 680 specialists into the health system by 2020.

The remainder of the projected shortfall will continue to be delivered through the public hospitals system.

Traditionally, medical specialist training has been provided in public hospitals. The private sector has not provided a significant portion of the training of future health professionals.

The overwhelming majority of specialist training is delivered in public settings, but we know that medical practice occurs in a much wider range of settings.

With a significant amount of health service delivery now occurring in the private sector, the Government will draw on the private sector to expand overall capacity for specialist training.

This major investment will be targeted at key specialisations and areas of need.

The increase in Specialty Places delivered through this investment will enhance existing specialist training which must continue.

Training targets will be developed in consultation with the medical colleges and States and Territories to ensure that the additional specialists are being trained in specialties where workforce and training capacity shortages are the greatest.

Specialties where shortages currently exist will be targeted.

These include general surgery, pathology, radiology, obstetrics and gynaecology and dermatology.

The Government will also seek the advice of Health Workforce Australia in accurately planning for future specialist workforce needs.

Priority will be given to providing training places in the communities where Australians need them, such as in rural and regional areas.

Supporting training in the private sector will build on the Government's commitment to permanently fund 60 per cent of the costs of training undertaken in public hospitals - making the Commonwealth Government the majority funder of training future doctors.

This critical investment will be included and offset across the forward estimates in the 2010-11 Budget, consistent with the Government's strict fiscal strategy.
 

The Rudd Government will invest $632 million to train a record number of doctors - to tackle doctor shortages, expand capacity and deliver better health and better hospitals.

In total, the Rudd Government's investments will deliver an additional 5,500 new or training General Practitioners, 680 medical specialists, and 5400 pre-vocational general practice program (PGPPP) training places over the next ten years.

Due to an historic lack of investment, we inherited a situation where workforce shortages are impacting on 59 per cent of all Australians.

To address this, the Rudd Government is:

• doubling the number of places available for medical graduates to train to become a General Practitioner from 600 when the government took office to 1,200 a year by 2014;
• more than doubling the current number of places available for medical graduates to undertake training to become specialist doctors in private, community and rural settings from 360 to 900 by 2014;
• doubling the number of places available for junior doctors to experience a career in general practice before they become a fully fledged doctor to 975 places a year by 2013.

These major investments will meet projected shortfalls, and help reduce pressure on hospitals by improving access and availability of GP and specialist services.

Today's announcement will build on the Commonwealth's commitment to permanently fund 60 per cent of teaching and research in our public hospital systems, as part of the new funding arrangements under the National Health and Hospital Network.

Since coming into office, the Government has already committed a record $1.1 billion to train more doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, including:

• investing $496.5 million to expand undergraduate clinical training places;
• providing 212 additional ongoing GP training places.

Alongside these investments, the government has also established Health Workforce Australia, Australia's first health workforce planning agency to better plan for our future health workforce needs.

These critical additional investments will be included and offset across the forward estimates in the 2010-11 Budget, consistent with the Government's strict fiscal strategy.

The Government has already delivered more than $55 billion worth of saves across the budget, including in the health portfolio, to make room for important national reforms.

The Government will continue to make the tough decisions necessary to deliver additional investments in a new National Health and Hospital Network, and will report on these decisions in the Budget, consistent with Budget practice.

The Government will make further announcements about investments in the Australian health workforce over the coming weeks.
 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Drew Clarke PSM as Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

Mr Clarke will replace Mr John Pierce who will be resigning as Secretary to take up the position of Chair of the Australian Energy Market Commission. I express my sincere thanks to Mr Pierce for his work in the Department and wish him well in his important new role.

Mr. Clarke will take up his appointment as Secretary on 17 April for a period of 5 years.

Mr Clarke is currently Deputy Secretary in the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. He has had a distinguished public service career with extensive experience in the development and delivery of policy and programs in the fields of science, business and energy. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Master of Science from the Ohio State University.

Mr Clarke's background and expertise equip him well to provide high level advice to government on the significant resources, energy and tourism sectors.
 

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Dr Mike Kelly, today congratulated Inghams Enterprises on winning the inaugural Prime Minister's Water Wise Award.

Announced by Dr Kelly at the Australian Water Association Awards Dinner in Brisbane, the award was developed to recognise and reward businesses that excel in water use efficiency and management.

Through their innovative water saving initiatives, Inghams Enterprises has saved 545 million litres of water since March 2009 and reduced their reliance on mains water by 70 per cent

"Inghams Advanced Water Treatment Plant project is one of many impressive water saving initiatives that entered the award," Mr Rudd said.

"It is very encouraging to see that large water users are striving to achieve best practice in water efficiency and demonstrating their commitment to continual improvement."

Dr Kelly said the Australian Government recognises the immense challenge we face as a nation in preparing for a future with less water and the role government, industry, and individuals play in response to these challenges.

"I applaud Inghams Enterprises and the finalists for their leadership and excellence in water savings," Dr Kelly said.

Delivering on a 2007 Australian Government election commitment, the Prime Minister's Water Wise Award complements the Australian Government's Water for the Future key priorities which include: taking action on climate change, using water wisely and securing water supplies.

The winner and four finalists were selected on the basis of their significant water savings; innovation; excellence in project delivery; and high capacity for their approaches to be replicated at other facilities.

The four finalists for the Prime Minister's Water Wise Award were Amcor Australasia; Coca-Cola Amatil; Diageo Australia and Rossdale Golf Club.

For more information visit: www.environment.gov.au/water/policy-programs/weo/pm-awards/index.html
 

The Australian Government congratulates Indonesia's President, His Excellency Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on his appointment as an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

The citation for the appointment was: "For strengthening Australia-Indonesia relations, and promoting democracy and development in Indonesia".

President Yudhoyono is a true friend of Australia. Under his leadership, the relationship between our two nations has grown stronger.

President Yudhoyono has also been a champion of democracy and of economic development for the people of Indonesia.

The Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, presented the award to the President in a ceremony at Government House.
 

The relationship between Indonesia and Australia has never been stronger. We have built an enduring partnership for the 21st Century, based on shared interests and common values. Though neighbours by circumstance, we are close friends and partners by choice.

We have a mutual stake in each other's progress and prosperity. We share a commitment to maintaining peace and advancing security and prosperity in our region. As pluralist democracies and open societies, we seek to promote the values of freedom, good governance, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law. We value regional and multilateral institutions and are committed to making them work more effectively.

From the foundation of our strengthened bilateral ties, Indonesia and Australia are working together to address regional and global challenges. Our partnership is a strategic asset, and we are committed to increasing our cooperation in regional and global forums to advance common interests.

We have agreed to upgrade our comprehensive partnership. We have resolved, as leaders, to meet annually in either Australia or Indonesia. We have also agreed that our respective foreign and defence ministers should meet jointly each year. We will continue to build on the contribution of the Australia Indonesia Ministerial Forum towards strengthening our relationship.

Between our two peoples, ties are growing. A record number of Australians travelled to Indonesia in 2009 and Australia is one of the most popular destinations for Indonesians studying abroad. We are committed to further strengthening these links in areas such as education, culture, media, business and sport. To this end, we will support the establishment of an Australia Indonesia Leadership Dialogue to bring together public figures, business people, academics, opinion-leaders and others for wide-ranging exchanges. We will consult regularly to promote increased and meaningful people-to-people exchanges. We are committed to strengthening our understanding of each others' cultures through increased cooperation on education (including through student and staff exchanges), joint research, dual and joint degrees, and professional development for teachers.

We are committed to realising the potential of the economic relationship between our economies. We have concluded the Australia-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement Joint Feasibility Study and are now considering next steps. We share the goal of increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investment.

Security cooperation under the framework of the Lombok Treaty is progressing, to our mutual benefit. Our defence forces worked closely together in responding to the Sumatra earthquake in September 2009. Our law enforcement agencies are cooperating to tackle the threat of terrorism. Indonesian successes in disrupting and dismantling terrorist networks and in the arrest of terrorist leaders have dealt a significant blow to the threat of terrorism in the region.

Australia and Indonesia are working with shared purpose to address the complex challenge of people smuggling, trafficking in persons and irregular migration. We are pursuing comprehensive regional responses, including through our co-chairing of the Bali Process. Complementing these regional efforts, we are working to enhance our bilateral cooperation, consistent with our Lombok Treaty and its Plan of Action. Our agreement on a new Implementation Framework for Cooperation to Combat People Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons will provide for enhanced cooperation on prevention and disruption of people smuggling ventures, border and immigration management, and legal processes. Australia welcomes Indonesia's plan to introduce a law to criminalise people smuggling this year.

We are committed, as mandated by the Lombok Treaty and its Plan of Action, to reinvigorate our joint efforts to prevent and combat transnational crimes, including through extradition and mutual legal assistance.

We have concluded a bilateral Arrangement on Consular Notification and Assistance to provide a framework for the provision of consular access and assistance to our nationals. We will conduct further consultations on issues involved in the transfer of sentenced prisoners between our two countries, including legal instruments and practical implementation.

We are working hand-in-hand to meet Indonesia's development priorities in a way that furthers both our interests. Australia will provide a further A$215 million over four years to support Indonesia's National Community Empowerment Program (PNPM). Building on the success of the Australia Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction, Australia will provide assistance towards the establishment of Indonesia's Disaster Management Rapid Response Force.

We welcome the G20's emergence as the premier forum for international economic cooperation and value our membership of the G20. Australia and Indonesia are committed to working together, and with other G20 countries, to drive an ambitious reform agenda to lay the foundations of a sustainable, stable and balanced global economic framework. We recognise the importance of our representation in the G20 and acknowledge our responsibilities accordingly.

Australia and Indonesia agree it is in our interests to examine the implications for regional architecture as economic and strategic weight shifts to the Asia-Pacific. We support the continued strengthening of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and remain committed to APEC as the pre-eminent forum for regional economic cooperation. We welcome ASEAN's contribution towards regional stability and acknowledge ASEAN's centrality in regional arrangements. We see value in continuing discussions on the institutional architecture of our region, with ASEAN at its foundation. Those discussions include Australia's Asia Pacific community initiative.

We will continue to work closely, through forums such as the Regional Interfaith Dialogue and the Bali Democracy Forum, to promote positive norms and values throughout the region, including good governance, democracy, tolerance and mutual respect amongst faiths.

Side-by-side, we are working to address climate change. We support the Copenhagen Accord and are committed to its implementation. We welcome the good progress made on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) at Copenhagen. We are continuing to take practical action through the Indonesia - Australia Forest Carbon Partnership to support this outcome. We have established an A$30 million Sumatra Forest Carbon Partnership as the second joint practical activity on REDD, bringing the total contribution to our Partnership to A$70 million.

Indonesia welcomes Australia's further commitment to support the Coral Triangle Initiative as a partnership to safeguard the region's extraordinary marine and coastal biological resources.

The partnership between Indonesia and Australia is alive with opportunities. As leaders, we are committed to strengthening this vital relationship, expanding it into new areas, and promoting an enhanced comprehensive partnership that will benefit both countries and contribute to regional stability and prosperity.
 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Anna Bligh today announced joint Commonwealth-State funded grants to help small businesses and primary producers affected by recent flooding in Queensland.

Today's announcement will see small businesses and primary producers receive grants for clean up and recovery. Tier 1 grants will be available for up to $5,000 and Tier 2 grants will be up to $20,000.

The Prime Minister said his thoughts were with the people of Queensland's south- west who were going through a very tough time.

"The Australian Government stands ready to assist the people of Queensland to recover from this very serious natural disaster," Mr Rudd said.

"This announcement today comes on top of the range of funding and assistance measures the Australian Government has already provided over the last week.

"This additional assistance is designed to minimise the economic impact on severely affected communities by providing short term targeted assistance, so businesses can continue trading as soon as possible."

Premier Bligh said small business owners and farmers would struggle to recover from this severe flooding event.

"Significant damage has occurred to small businesses in the majority of the communities in flood affected south west Queensland," Ms Bligh said.

"There will be extensive livestock and crop losses and damage to fencing, watering points, irrigation and other infrastructure on many rural properties.

"This grant funding is available to all eligible primary producers and small business owners who have suffered damage to their business."

The grants are being provided for the local government areas where the greatest impact has occurred. To date these areas include Balonne, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Bulloo, Diamantina, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Western Downs

The last time this grants program was activated in Queensland was during the 2009 monsoonal flooding and Tropical Cyclones Charlotte and Ellie.

These grants are in addition to concessional loans and freight subsidies for small businesses and primary producers which have already been activated for these local government areas.

The Australian and Queensland Governments are providing prompt and targeted assistance to help local communities recover from Queensland's biggest flooding event on record.

Last week the Premier announced the Premiers Flood Appeal and pledged $500,000 from the Queensland Government.

Joint State and Commonwealth Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) have been activated for 59 local government areas.

Under the NDRRA, councils will be able to access funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments to assist with the cost of restoring essential public assets as well as the cost of counter disaster operations.

Disaster relief funding arrangements have also been activated for people experiencing personal hardship in a number of local government areas.

These funding arrangements consist of:

• Emergent Assistance Payment - up to $170 per person and $780 per family.
• Means tested - Essential Household Contents Grant - up to $1,660 for individuals and $4,980 for couples or families.
• Means tested - Repairs to Dwellings / Structural Assistance Grant - up to $10,250 for individuals and $13,800 for couples or families.

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has also activated the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment in a number of local government areas in south-west Queensland where individuals and households where significantly impacted.
 

International Women's Day celebrates progress towards gender equality and allows us to focus on the work still to be done to fully value the contribution of women to all areas of Australian life.

The Australian Government is determined to make real progress in advancing the status of women and providing supports so women can make the choices that are right for them.

Since being elected, the Government has taken practical action to help women juggle competing pressures on their time, particularly work and family.

This includes returning fairness and flexibility to Australian workplaces including for the first time a right for parents to request flexible and part time work. The Government has made it easier for women to afford to return to work by increasing the Child Care Rebate to 50 per cent of out of pocket expenses and making payments quarterly.

For the first time a Paid Parental Leave Scheme will commence in 2011 that will allow women to remain connected to the workforce while easing financial burdens so they can choose to spend more time with their new baby. The Government's scheme is a fully funded Scheme that particularly supports the financial security of low income women.

The Government is working with business to improve women's opportunities in employment. Today, the Treasurer and the Minister for the Status of Women awarded Employer of Choice citations to 95 businesses able to demonstrate that they have gone over and above minimum requirements to support women's career achievement.

The Government has taken a zero tolerance approach to violence against women, committing funds for urgent actions to prevent violence and support victims. The Government is also on track to releasing our National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women this year.

While Australians should be proud of our nation's record in advancing gender equity, there is further work to be done.

The Prime Minister and the Minister for the Status of Women marked International Women's Day by attending the UNIFEM annual International Women's Day breakfast in Sydney last Friday.

Local Hospital Networks will be established across the country and paid directly by the Australian Government for each public hospital service they provide.

Local Hospital Networks will be made up of a small group of hospitals that will work together to provide a range of hospital services and manage their own budgets.

Local Hospital Networks will be:

- Run locally;
- Funded nationally;
- Accountable for their performance against strong national standards.

The way in which public hospitals are operated and controlled today varies substantially across the country - some States devolve control to the local level, other States have highly centralised models managed by large area health services.

As part of the Government's reforms, Local Hospital Networks - comprised of between one and four hospitals, with regional networks potentially including more small hospitals - will be responsible for the running of public hospital services.

In capital cities, Local Hospital Networks will be built around large tertiary or specialist hospitals. In regional and remote areas, networks will be built around large regional hospitals.

Local Hospital Networks will avoid the fragmentation and duplication that comes from individual hospitals operating independently, as they will work together to coordinate and plan services - rather than compete for resources.

Paying for what you get

The Government will pay Local Hospital Networks directly for each public hospital service they provide, rather than just hand over block funding grants to the states.

An independent umpire will set the "efficient national price" for different hospital services - in other words, the amount a service should cost if it is being delivered efficiently, taking into account factors such as remoteness and the complexity of patients' needs.

This reform will provide an incentive for hospitals to minimise waste and deliver services as efficiently as possible.

Empowering local clinicians and local communities

Doctors and nurses will also have more of a say in hospital decision making through the establishment of clinical senates and representation in the Local Hospital Networks' management structures.

A key theme throughout the Government's health reform consultations was that many hospital staff and communities felt that they did not have the opportunity to drive change.

The Australian Government will work with States and Territories to determine the network structure that best meets the needs of communities and the challenges of managing multiple small hospitals.

There will be no net increase in bureaucracy under this reform - because as a condition of the funding any increase in the number of local staff working at Local Hospital Networks must be matched by a reduction in head office staff numbers in health departments and regional bureaucracies.

Changing the way hospitals are funded and run will make Australia's public hospital services more responsive to local communities, reduce waste and duplication, and ensure taxpayer health dollars are being used to deliver health services as effectively and efficiently as possible.