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Door Slams On Doctor Places For Our Best And Brightest

Press Releases January 27 2009

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Something is very wrong in Australia when our best and brightest are told there are no more doctor places for them at our universities but every year 4000 doctors from overseas are welcomed with open arms, Family First Leader Senator Steve Fielding said today.

“Australia is suffering from a massive doctor shortage, yet government efforts to fix the shortage are woefully inadequate,” Senator Fielding said. 

“What message does it send to those in our community who want to work as doctors, who want to help heal and treat our sick? It’s that they are not wanted, that there is no place for them. 

“We must train our own children, we must stop opting for the cheap option of importing doctors that cuts out places for our own but also robs those overseas communities of doctors they desperately need. 

“Prime Minister Rudd tells businesses to protect local jobs but where’s that protection for our young Australians who want to work in medicine and make a difference in their community? 

“More than 13,000 applicants missed out on Victorian university places in the first round offers and how many more will miss out on second round offers next week? 

“Figures given to Family First in response to Senate Estimates questions reveal one third of practicing GPs in Australia are overseas trained,” Senator Fielding said. 

“Figures also revealed that many doctors in other specialties are also overseas trained, but – no surprise – no records are kept on the total number of overseas doctors practicing in Australia. 

“Each year Australia imports more than 4,000 doctors, but fewer than 2000 Australian doctors graduated last year. In four years there will still be fewer than 3000 Australian doctors graduating. 

“Last year more than 7000 Australian students couldn’t get a medical place at university. Fewer than 30% of students who apply for medical studies are offered a place. 

“Last year the Federal government announced an extra 212 GP training places by 2011, but that response is like putting a bandaid on someone with multiple injuries – it does not fix the problem.” 

For media enquiries phone Jo Robertson 0409 550 446