Footnotes

Executive Summary

[1]        Senate Select Committee on Health, First Interim Report, 2 December 2014, www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/First_Interim_Report.

[2]        Freedom of Information Request, Mr Sean Parnell, Health and FOI Editor, The Australian to Department of Health, 27 April 2015, p. 1.

[3]        Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, 'Shroud of secrecy amid lasting pain', Medical Observer, 9 June 2015.

[4]        Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 2.

[5]        Christopher Harrison, Clare Bayram, Graeme C Miller, Helena C Britt, , 'The cost of freezing general practice', Medical Journal of Australia, 10 March 2015, www.mja.com.au/journal/2015/202/6/cost-freezing-general-practice?0=ip_login_no_cache%3D2711da5acfee8a84b8bbb5566569664a.

[6]        Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 1.

[7]        Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, Australian Medical Association, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 3.

[8]        Ms Sophie Scott, 'Medicare Changes: How doctors' anger and backlash from patients forced Government to scrap rebate cuts', ABC News Online,15 January 2015, www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-15/why-the-unpopular-medicare-rebate-changes-had-to-be-scrapped/6019314.

[9]        RACGP, 'Family Doctors acknowledged internationally as foundation of healthy communities', Media Release, 19 May 2015.

[10]      RACGP, Submission 115, p. 2.

[11]      AHCRA, 'Government still tunnelling away to undermine universal health care', Media Release, 14 December 2014.

[12]      Ms Jenny Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, RDAA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015,     p. 17.

[13]      Ms Jean Edwards, 'Budget 2015: Victoria blasts Abbott Government of health cuts', ABC News Online, 13 May 2015, www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-13/victoria-blasts-abbott-government-over-budget-health-cuts/6467526.

[14]      Ms Melinda Howells, 'Budget 2015: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says no job cuts to health', ABC News Online, 13 May 2015, www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-13/palaszczuk-no-job-cuts-to-health-despite-cameron-dick-comments/6466908.

[15]      Mr Steve Archer, Deputy Chief Executive, Finance and Corporate Services, Department for Health and Ageing South Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 20.

[16]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 7.

[17]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 4.

[18]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 6.

[19]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 22.

[20]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 8.

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, 25 June 2014, pp 996–998.

[2]        The submissions received by the committee can be accessed via the committee's website: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Submissions.

[3]        Journals of the Senate, 2 December 2014, p. 1948.

[4]        Committee Hansards can be accessed via the committee's website: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Public_Hearings.

Chapter 2 - Importance of General Practice and Primary Healthcare

[1]        Ms Julie Lambert, 'We will overturn the indexation freeze: AMA vow', Medical Observer,          29 May 2015, www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/we-will-overturn-indexation-freeze-ama-vow.

[2]        RACGP, 'Budget delivers mixed bag for general practice', Media Release, 12 May 2015.

[3]        Ms Jenny Johnson, CEO, RDAA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 17.

[4]        General Practice Series Number 36, 'General practice activity in Australia 2013-14', Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) Study, Family Medicine Research Centre University of Sydney, p. iii.

[5]        Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4839.0 – Patient Experiences in Australia: Summary of Findings 2013-14, 28 November 2014, www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4839.0.

[6]        RACGP, Submission 115, p. 2.

[7]        AHCRA, ' Government still tunnelling away to undermine universal health care', Media Release, 14 December 2014.

[8]        RACGP, Submission 115, p. 2.

[9]        Professor Andrew Bonney, Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice, University of Wollongong, Submission 128, p. 1.

[10]      Professor Andrew Bonney, Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice, University of Wollongong, Submission 128, p. 1.

[11]      Ms Ellen Kerrins, Manager, Advocacy and Policy, Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia, Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 39.

[12]      Hunter General Practitioners Association, Submission 123, p. 2. Original emphasis in italics maintained from submission.

[13]      Dr Anne-marie Boxall, Senior Policy Adviser, National Rural Health Alliance, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 44.

[14]      Dr Graeme Alexander, Claremont Medical Village, Tasmania, Submission 129, p. 3.

[15]      Dr Con Costa, President, Doctors Reform Society, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 75.

[16]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 66.

[17]      Professor Andrew Bonney, Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice, University of Wollongong, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 25.

[18]      Networking Health Victoria, 'RACGP releases information sheet on co-payment and rebate freeze', Media release, 14 January 2015.

[19]      VicHealth, Submission 80, p. 5.

[20]      VicHealth, Submission 80, p. 5.

[21]      Professor Andrew Bonney, Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice, University of Wollongong, Submission 128, p. 1.

[22]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 66.

[23]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 6.

[24]      Doctors Reform Society of Australia, Supplementary Submission 85, p. 2.

[25]      Dr Emil Djakic, Ulverstone GP, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 26.

[26]      Dr Emil Djakic, Ulverstone GP, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 26.

[27]      Dr Anthony Cross, President, ACEM, Committee Hansard, 8 October 2014, p. 22.

[28]      Dr Simon Judkins, Councillor, ACEM, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, pp 55–56.

[29]      Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM), Submission 132, p. 1.

[30]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health 'Government continues Medicare consultation', Media release, 3 March 2015.

[31]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[32]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 3.

[33]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, pp 68–69.

[34]      Dr Graeme Alexander, General Practitioner, Claremont Village Medical Centre, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 37.

[35]      Dr Richard Terry, Practice Principal, Whitebridge Medical Centre, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 27.

[36]      Dr Frank Jones, President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 9.

[37]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[38]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[39]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[40]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[41]      Dr Ian Kamerman, North-West Health, Tamworth, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 26.

[42]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 66.

[43]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 7.

[44]      Dr Linda Mann, GP, private capacity, Committee Hansard, 19 February 2015, p. 29.

[45]      Dr Charlotte Hespe, Private capacity, Committee Hansard, 19 February 2015, p. 29.

[46]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 67.

[47]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Supplementary Submission 29, p. 2.

Chapter 3 - Government healthcare policy and sector responses

[1]        Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) 2014-15, p. 166. See also the Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of media conference, 9 December 2014.

[2]        The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media release, 15 January 2015.

[3]        The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media release, 15 January 2015.

[4]        The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 3 March 2015.

[5]        The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government continues Medicare consultation', Media release, 3 March 2015.

[6]        Journals of the Senate, 2 December 2014, p. 1948.

[7]        Senate Select Committee on Health, First interim report, 2 December 2014, p. 3.

[8]        Senate Select Committee on Health, First interim report, 2 December 2014, p. xix.

[9]        The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 1.

[10]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, pp 1–2.

[11]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 3. It should be noted that representatives from the Department of Finance indicated at a public hearing on 5 February 2015 that the overall projected savings of the 9 December package was $3.6 billion. It should also be noted that this estimation of savings is for the package announced on 9 December 2014. The changes announced on 15 January 2015, which included the removal of the proposal for a reduced rebate for shorter consultations, was estimated by Finance officials to reduce the projected saving to $2.6 billion over the forward estimates.

[12]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[13]      Dr Stephen Duckett, 'GP co-payment 2.0: a triple whammy for patients', The Conversation, 11 December 2014.

[14]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[15]      Dr Stephen Duckett, 'GP co-payment 2.0: a triple whammy for patients', The Conversation, 11 December 2014.

[16]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[17]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 4.

[18]      Britt H, Valenti L, Miller G, Debunking the myth of general practice as ‘6 minute medicine’ University of Sydney 2014, http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/fmrc/beach/bytes/BEACH-Byte-2014-002.pdf. According to this study about 35 million GP consultations of the total 134 million lasted less than 10 minutes.

[19]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 5.

[20]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[21]      Government Factsheet 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare: How is the co-payment changing?', Department of Health, December 2014, p. 1.

[22]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[23]      Government Factsheet, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare: What it means for doctors', Department of Health, December 2014, p. 1.

[24]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 3.

[25]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[26]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare', Joint Press Release, 9 December 2014, p. 2.

[27]      Government Factsheet, 'A Strong and Sustainable Medicare: What it means for doctors', Department of Health, December 2014, p. 2.

[28]      2013-14 Budget, Budget Paper 2, p. 177.

[29]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, transcript of press conference, 9 December 2014, p. 5.

[30]      Freedom of Information Request, Mr Sean Parnell, Health and FOI Editor, The Australian to Department of Health, 27 April 2015, p. 1.

[31]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 3.

[32]      Dr Frank R Jones, President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 10.

[33]      Dr Richard Terry, Practice Principal, Whitebridge Medical Centre, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 27.

[34]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 92.

[35]      Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA), Submission 90, p. 2.

[36]      Dr Frank R Jones, President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 12.

[37]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 67.

[38]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 4.

[39]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 6.

[40]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 90.

[41]      Networking Health Victoria, 'RACGP releases information sheet on co-payment and rebate freeze', Media release, 14 January 2015.

[42]      Lenore Taylor, 'Doctors to demonstrate in protest at 'plan B' proposed Medicare changes', The Guardian, 7 January 2015.

[43]      Dr Frank R Jones, President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 9.

[44]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 3.

[45]      The RACGP noted in their media release of 15 January 2014 that in less than seven days 'a staggering 44,000+ signatures from GPs and patients' had been added to an online petition against the consultation time changes. RACGP, 'Sanity prevails in proposed Medicare shakeup', Medial Release, 15 January 2015.

[46]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media Release, 15 January 2015, p. 1.

[47]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media Release, 15 January 2015, p. 1.

[48]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media Release, 15 January 2015, p. 1.

[49]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, transcript of doorstop, Gold Coast, 15 January 2015.

[50]      RDAA, 'Rural Doctors welcome Minister's announcement on Medicare', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[51]      RACGP, 'Sanity prevails in proposed Medicare shakeup', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[52]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, transcript of doorstop, Gold Coast, 15 January 2015.

[53]      RACGP, 'RACGP pleased vulnerable patients protected under changes to co-payment model', Media Release, 9 December 2014.

[54]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 7.

[55]      Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance (AHCRA), Supplementary Submission 90, p. 1.

[56]      Dr Anne-marie Boxall, Senior Policy Adviser, National Rural Health Alliance, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 44.

[57]      Consumers Health Forum of Australia, '$5 cut to doctor equals co-payment by default', Media Release, 9 December 2014, p. 1.

[58]      National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), 'NACCHO Media Release: Revised GP co-payment policy remains a hit to Aboriginal health', Media Release, 10 December 2014, p. 1.

[59]      Professor Andrew Bonney, Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 29.

[60]      Ms Jennifer Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, RDAA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 19.

[61]      AMA, 'Time for Prime Minister to abandon rebate cut', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[62]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government continues Medicare consultation', Media Release, 3 March 2015, p. 2.

[63]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government continues Medicare consultation', Media Release, 3 March 2015.

[64]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government continues Medicare consultation', Media Release, 3 March 2015.

[65]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[66]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[67]      Mrs Jennifer Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, RDAA, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 24.

[68]      Mr Gregory Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Alliance, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 42.

[69]      Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), Supplementary Submission 76, pp 6–7.

[70]      Mrs Alana Killen, Chief Executive Officer, Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 58.

[71]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 67.

[72]      Dr Fiona van Leeuwen, Vice Chair, Hunter General Practitioners Association, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, pp 26–27.

[73]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform' Media Release, 15 January 2015, p. 1.

[74]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform' Media Release, 15 January 2015, p. 1.

[75]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, transcript of doorstop, Gold Coast, 15 January 2015; and RACGP, 'Sanity prevails in proposed Medicare shakeup', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[76]      Natalie Kotsios, 'Sussan Ley delivers Medicare consultation as prescribed', Border Mail, 28 January 2015, www.bordermail.com.au/story/2845272/sussan-ley-delivers-medicare-consultation-as-prescribed/.

[77]      Dr Frank Jones, President, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 9.

[78]      See for example Natalie Kotsios, 'Sussan Ley delivers Medicare consultation as prescribed', Border Mail, 28 January 2015, www.bordermail.com.au/story/2845272/sussan-ley-delivers-medicare-consultation-as-prescribed/.

[79]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, pp 94–95.

[80]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health; and Mr Andrew Stuart, Acting Secretary, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, pp 94–95.

[81]      Answer to Question on Notice No. 12, Department of Health, 5 February 2015.

[82]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 92.

[83]      Ms Kirsty Faichney, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division, Department of Health, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 92.

[84]      RACGP, 'Sanity prevails in proposed Medicare shakeup', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[85]      RACGP, Supplementary Submission 115, p. 2.

[86]      Dr Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, Committee Hansard, 5 February 2015, p. 67.

[87]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[88]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[89]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[90]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[91]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media release, 22 April 2015.

[92]      AMA, 'Health Policy Stagnation', Media Release, 2 March 2015.

[93]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 20.

[94]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Government to consult on Medicare reform', Media Release, 15 January 2015.

[95]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, ' Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media Release, 22 April 2015.

[96]      Mr Robert Bonner, Director, Operations and Strategy, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, South Australia Branch, Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 17.

Chapter 4 - 2015-16 Budget

[1]        Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper No. 2, 'Medicare Benefits Schedule – changes to GP rebates – reversal', p. 102.

[2]        Parliamentary Budget Office, 2015-16 Budget and forward estimates – charts, 28 May 2015,    p. 18.

[3]        Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper No. 2 p. 132.

[4]        Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper No. 2 p. 140.

[5]        Votes and Proceedings No. 117, House of Representatives, 27 May 2015, p. 1317.

[6]        Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health; Mr Mark Cormack, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health; and Ms Janet Anderson, First Assistant Secretary, Acute Care Division, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, pp 26–27.

[7]        The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media Release, 22 April 2015.

[8]        Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 1.

[9]        Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 8.

[10]      Dr Emil Djakic, Ulverstone GP, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 26.

[11]      Dr James Wilson, Tasmanian GP, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 27.

[12]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media Release, 22 April 2015.

[13]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, p. 104.

[14]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, p. 104.

[15]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media Release, 22 April 2015.

[16]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'Abbott Government to deliver a healthier Medicare', Media Release, 22 April 2015.

[17]      Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 50.

[18]      Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 50.

[19]      Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 50.

[20]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, 19.

[21]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 8.

[22]      Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 4.

[23]      Department of Health, department website, 'Flexible Funds – Funding the nation's health priorities', www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/budget2011-flexfunds.htm.

[24]      Department of Health, department website, 'Flexible Funds – Funding the nation's health priorities', www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/budget2011-flexfunds.htm.

[25]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No 2, p. 110.

[26]      Dr Richard Bartlett, First Assistant Secretary, Portfolio Investment Division, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 10.

[27]      Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper No. 2, p. 131.

[28]      Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 9.

[29]      Mr Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 11.

[30]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 12.

[31]      Ms Helen Tyrrell, CEO, Hepatitis Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 14.

[32]      Ms Helen Tyrrell, CEO, Hepatitis Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 14.

[33]      Ms Cathy Dyer, Director, Corporate Services, Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation, Committee Hansard, 10 June 2015, p. 13.

[34]      Ms Amanda Mitchell, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Inc, Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 12.

[35]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 22.

[36]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 22.

[37]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 39.

[38]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 39.

[39]      Dr Richard Bartlett, First Assistant Secretary, Portfolio Investment Division, Department of Health Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 13.

[40]      Dr Richard Bartlett, First Assistant Secretary, Portfolio Investment Division, Department of Health, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates Hansard, 1 June 2015, p. 13.

[41]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO, PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 39.

[42]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO, PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, pp 40–41.

[43]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO, PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 42.

[44]      Ms Melanie Walker, Acting CEO, PHAA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 42.

[45]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 104-5.

[46]      Panel Report, Review of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records, December 2013, p. 5.

[47]      Panel Report, Review of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records, December 2013, p. 5.

[48]      Department of Health, department website, Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) System, www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ehealth-record.

[49]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 104–5.

[50]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 104–5.

[51]      Department of Health, department website, Welcome to ehealth.gov.au, http://www.ehealth.gov.au/internet/ehealth/publishing.nsf/content/home.

[52]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 104–5.

[53]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 104–5.

[54]      RDAA, 'Mixed-bag Budget for rural health sector: Rural doctors search for fine details in Health Budget', Media Release, 12 May 2015.

[55]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 20.

[56]      National Health Reform Process and Delivery Publication, Government Publication, September 2011, p. 18.

[57]      The committee examined the Review of Medicare Locals in its first interim report. For further reading, see: Senate Select Committee on Health, First Interim Report, 2 December 2014, Chapter 4.

[58]      Professor John Horvath AO, Review of Medicare Locals – Report to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Sport, 4 March 2014, p. 7.

[59]      Professor John Horvath AO, Review of Medicare Locals – Report to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Sport, 4 March 2014, recommendation 8, p. v.

[60]      The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'Review of After-Hours Service Delivery', Media Release, 19 August 2014.

[61]      Ms Marie McInerney, 'Not all “Captain Chaos” but much confusion, concern on post-Budget health issues', Croakey blog, 19 May 2015, http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2015/05/19/not-all-captain-chaos-but-much-confusion-concern-on-post-budget-health-issues/.

[62]      Professor Claire Jackson, Review of after hours primary health care – report to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Sport, 31 October 2014, p. ix.

[63]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, pp 109–110.

[64]      AMA, 'New arrangements will improve after hours GP services', Media Release, 22 May 2015.

[65]      RDAA, 'Mixed-bag Budget for rural health sector: Rural doctors search for fine details in Health Budget', Media Release, 12 May 2015.

[66]      RACGP, 'Budget delivers mixed bag for general practice', Media Release, 12 May 2015.

[67]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, p. 103.

[68]      Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper No. 2, p. 103.

[69]      Department of Health, department website, 'Expanded Medicare Healthy Kids Check', www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/healthy-kidschk.

[70]      Department of Health, department website, 'Expanded Medicare Healthy Kids Check', www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/healthy-kidschk.

[71]      Department of Health, department website, 'Expanded Medicare Healthy Kids Check', www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/healthy-kidschk.

[72]      The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Health, 'Medicare Locals Review', Media Release, 16 December 2013.

[73]      The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, 'GPs still funded to deliver important kids checks', Media Release, 19 May 2015.

[74]      RACGP, 'Budget threatens health of Aussie kids', Media Release, 18 May 2015.

[75]      RACGP, 'Budget threatens health of Aussie kids', Media Release, 18 May 2015.

[76]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 11.

[77]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 11.

[78]      Dr Morton Rawlin, Vice President, RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 11.

[79]      Speech Pathology Australia, 'The Budget 2015-2016: What’s in it for Speech Pathologists?', Media Release, May 2015.

[80]      Speech Pathology Australia, 'The Budget 2015-2016: What’s in it for Speech Pathologists?', Media Release, May 2015.

[81]      Professor Nigel Stocks, Head, Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 31.

[82]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, 'Shroud of secrecy amid lasting pain', Medical Observer, 9 June 2015.

[83]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, 'Shroud of secrecy amid lasting pain', Medical Observer, 9 June 2015.

[84]      Associate Professor Brian Owler, President, AMA, 'Shroud of secrecy amid lasting pain', Medical Observer, 9 June 2015.

[85]      Ms Alison Verhoeven, CEO, AHHA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 20.

Chapter 5 - Related issues

[1]        Dr Charlotte Hespe, private capacity, Committee Hansard, 19 February 2015, p. 30.

[2]        Dr Jomini Cheong, Chair, General Practice Registrars Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 26.

[3]        Dr Saxon Smith, President, AMA NSW, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015. p. 50.

[4]        Dr Jomini Cheong, Chair, General Practice Registrars Australia, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 26.

[5]        Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, pp 1–2.

[6]        Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President, AMA, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 2.

[7]        Associate Professor David Campbell, Censor-in-Chief, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Committee Hansard, 13 February 2015, p. 27.

[8]        Associate Professor David Campbell, Censor-in-Chief, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Committee Hansard, 13 February 2015, p. 27.

[9]        Associate Professor David Campbell, Censor-in-Chief, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Committee Hansard, 13 February 2015, p. 28.

[10]      Dr Saxon Smith, President, AMA NSW, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015, p. 53.

[11]      Dr Emil Djakic, GP, Ulverstone, Tasmania, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 25.

[12]      Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 3.

[13]      Dr Stephen Parnis, Vice President RACGP, Committee Hansard, 9 June 2015, p. 3.

[14]      Associate Professor Lizzi Shires, Co-Director, Rural Clinical School, University of Tasmania, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 3.

[15]      Associate Professor Lizzi Shires, Co-Director, Rural Clinical School, University of Tasmania, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 3.

[16]      Associate Professor Lizzi Shires, Co-Director, Rural Clinical School, University of Tasmania, Committee Hansard, 17 April 2015, p. 3.

[17]      Mrs Diana Aspinall, Consumer Reference Group GP Network Blue Mountains, 12 March 2015, Committee Hansard, pp 39–40.

[18]      Mrs Jenny MacKellin, CEO, Central Coast Disability Network, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015, pp 23–24.

[19]      In this context "Ramp" refers to an ambulance waiting with a patient until the patient can be received by the Emergency Department.

[20]      Mr Jeff Andrew, Vice President, Australian Paramedics Association, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015, p. 43.

[21]      Mr Jeff Andrew, Vice President, Australian Paramedics Association, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015, p. 43.

[22]      Mr Jeff Andrew, Vice President, Australian Paramedics Association, Committee Hansard, 11 March 2015, p. 45.

Appendix 1 - Witnesses who appeared before the committee[1]

[1] www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Public_Hearings

Appendix 2 - Submissions received by the committee[1]

[1]        www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Submissions

Appendix 3 - Additional information and answers to questions on notice[1]

[1] www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Additional_Documents