Priestly makes minimum health standards, health accountability his major bargaining chip

By Max Stainkamph

May 10, 2022

Announcement: Independent candidate for Nicholls Rob Priestly has revealed the major policy he would take to Canberra.

Independent candidate for the federal seat of Nicholls Rob Priestly says minimum service standards in health and aged care would be the major policy he would bring to parliament and his bargaining chip to garner support from a major party in the event of a hung parliament.

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Mr Priestly’s proposed minimum service standards for primary healthcare in regional areas would focus on GP coverage, access to key specialities such as obstetrics, nurses and allied health professionals, mental health services, drug and rehabilitation services and more, all indexed to population ratios.

“This will be a major plank of my negotiations with the major parties in parliament,” Mr Priestly said.

“Delivering minimum health service standards is a non-negotiable if they want my support on key legislation.”

He said there were currently no baseline standards for primary care service delivery across the country, and no accountability for governments that did not deliver the minimum care communities needed.

Mr Priestly said he would convene a national advisory board of health professionals to set those baseline standards for a range of primary health services that would be the responsibility of the Federal Government.

He said he would also seek to expand the powers of a rural health commissioner to monitor and report failures to meet those minimum standards.

“Without having these baseline standards in place, the Coalition government has shirked its responsibility for delivering essential services in our community,” Mr Priestly said.

“There are currently no minimum service standards for primary health care in regional Australia and no system for ensuring that the Commonwealth is accountable for achieving minimum standards.

“Having a set of standards and accountability for meeting them is essential to driving the investment needed to bring health service provision up to acceptable levels in our region.

“Without accountability, the government will continue to oversee neglect in this area.”

Mr Priestly said the Goulburn Murray region was facing a “crisis” in the delivery of primary health care services, with declining workforce availability in the coming decade meeting rising demand for more health professionals.

“We need real results on the ground. More GPs, more specialists and allied health professionals, and more mental health services,” he said.

“It’s time for change on health service delivery in our region.”