Latest wins: President and CEO update - November 2024
Both major parties made tackling our healthcare workforce crisis one of their top priorities in the October state election. Queensland now has a new government, and we look forward to working with them on implementing their commitments for Queensland’s health system.
We congratulate LNP Leader David Crisafulli on his election as Premier and, at the same time, thank the outgoing Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman for their efforts for the Queensland community.
We will be urging Premier Crisafulli and new Health Minister Tim Nicholls to retain initiatives put in place by the outgoing government, including workforce attraction incentives for regional doctors, grants to assist junior doctors to train as GPs and assistance for regional GPs to upskill in obstetrics and anaesthetics – skills that are critically needed in regional Queensland.
RECENT WINS
Payroll tax exemption
The new government is keeping its election promise to exempt GPs from payroll tax, with Treasurer David Janetzki confirming that he has instructed Treasury to begin the process. We had our first meeting with Minister Janetzki on 13 November, at which we emphasised the need to extend the exemption to all private medical practices.
Following three years of fierce advocacy from AMA Queensland, both major political parties committed to an exemption for GPs, with Premier Crisafulli pledging to begin the legal process in his first week.
This is a welcome move that will give GPs and patients certainty.
However, non-GP private specialists remained concerned. They are still not eligible for the amnesty and have no certainty that they will not be hit with crippling retrospective bills out of the blue.
We will continue to call for all private medical practices to be exempt from this new interpretation of the tax.
Pill testing at Schoolies
The LNP’s decision to listen to health experts and proceed with pill testing at this year’s Schoolies will improve the safety of Queensland school leavers.
Prior to the election, the LNP proposed to repeal Queensland’s drug diversion laws, going against the advice of medical, health, legal and law enforcement experts.
This included the cancellation of pill testing at this year’s Schoolies.
History shows that experimenting with substances, especially during young adulthood with a lack of knowledge around drug and alcohol use, can lead to harm and death.
Early results of Queensland pill testing services indicate the benefits of education, with 16 per cent of people choosing to dispose of their substance after testing and a discussion with a health professional.
A further 25 per cent also indicated they would reduce their use as a result of accessing the service.
We called on the Premier to reconsider, and welcomed his announcement that pill testing will go ahead this year.
It is promising that the LNP has chosen to commence their term in government with such a sensible health decision and we will continue to work with them to ensure this extends to drug diversion laws and permanent pill testing centres.
We are in a cost of living crisis and people are turning to the internet for cheaper medicines. But what we are finding at these pill testing services is that these medicines are not what people thought they were buying.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Fluoridated water
Dangerous misinformation about fluoride in water supplies is causing unnecessary fear and concern in communities and leading to backlash against medical and health experts who advocate for fluoridation.
In our previous update, we shared our correspondence with Cairns and Gympie Regional Councils, urging them to ensure community water fluoridation.
Our members continue to raise concerns about increasing prevalence and severity of oral disease, particularly among children, and the simultaneous increase in fluoride misinformation.
We commend our doctors for consistently advocating for water fluoridation as a form of preventive health, despite the personal backlash.
Water fluoridation is one of the safest, easiest and most effective methods to reduce the prevalence and severity of oral disease. It has been described as one of the 10 great public health measures of the 20th century and actually saves money.
AMA Queensland has repeatedly called on the state government to reintroduce mandatory fluoridation across the state.
Most recently, we have been working in collaborating with the Australian Dental Association Queensland to advocate for the retention and reinstatement of fluoridation in all LGAs.
We continue to urge Councils to act in the interests of their community by reinstating water fluoridation to ensure all Queensland communities have health equity.
OUR CAMPAIGNS
Election Commitments Scorecard 2024
AMA Queensland released its Election Commitments Scorecard prior to the recent state election, rating the main health promises from the major parties against our 17 priority areas.
It found that both major parties had made important, publicly identifiable health commitments in 13 of the 17 priority areas.
Both Labor and the LNP committed to major growth in our healthcare workforce by 2032.
Labor promised to maintain grants to encourage more doctors to specialise as GPs, while the LNP promised a regional approach to fast-track high school students into health careers.
Both sides promised no change to existing termination of pregnancy laws and we will hold the LNP to this commitment.
We are disappointed that the LNP is opposing Queensland’s current drug diversion laws. This is about treating a health issue rather than criminalising people and the three-strike drug law supports this. People are not eligible under the law if they are also committing a crime.
We will continue to urge the new government to reconsider its last-minute short-sighted drug policies.
AMA Queensland looks forward to working with the new state government on implementing its commitments for Queensland’s health system.
Visit the campaign page and read the Scorecard
Q3 Scorecard
Our scorecard outlines our extensive work to support and advance the medical profession in Queensland and protect patient health.
In Q3 2024 we had 1,678 member engagements and reached an accumulated media audience of more than 16.5 million in the delivery of complex policy advocacy to achieve positive change.
We are proud to work with Queensland doctors to create better outcomes for our communities.
EVENTS
Women in Medicine wrap up
Queensland's illustrious women in medicine came together for our annual Brisbane breakfast on 17 October to hear more about inspiring change.
Thank you to everyone who attended, we hope our speakers’ stories motivated and inspired you.
It was wonderful to watch everyone networking, catching up and making new connections.
With your help purchasing flowers and raffle tickets, we raised $7,841 for Restore more.
