Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the urgent need for full-time doctors in rural medical practices including but not limited to Cardwell, Ingham, Tully and Mission Beach.

The dearth of available Medical Practitioners has had dire complications for the residents of these rural towns specifically those of older age. In the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics for Cardwell there were 153 65–69-year-olds compared to 42 30–34-year-olds. In Ingham, there were 323 65-69-year-olds compared to 213 30–34-year-olds. Medical Practitioners are needed more in rural towns to minimise the travel distance for the elderly.

Small rural towns are losing their medical practices putting more weight on the bigger rural towns including Tully and Ingham. These bigger rural town practices have now presented four to five-week waits to see a General Practitioner for both new and existing patients. The limited availability to see doctors in these towns has serious implications for the health deterioration rate of the elderly and the sick.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all within its power to provide permanent rural Medical Practitioners in Cardwell, Ingham, Tully, Mission Beach, and in all rural medical practices in Queensland.