The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a $1.64 billion clinical training package in November 2008. The package provides additional funding for undergraduate clinical training places, as well as extra GP and other specialist training positions in the private sector. The COAG announcement did not specifically mention support for intern training and specialist training posts in the public sector.

The AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, has written to the Minister for Health and Ageing to seek assurances that there will be sufficient clinical training positions for interns and specialist trainees in the public sector. The letter also re-affirms the AMA’s support for an expanded role for the Medical Training Review Panel and raised concerns about the scope of the new national health workforce agency.