AMA backs cooling-off period for ex-Ministers
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, today backed calls for ex-Ministers to undergo a 'cooling off' period before being allowed to accept consultancies in areas directly related to their former portfolio.
Dr Phelps said such a system would prevent controversies such as former Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, accepting a consultancy with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday that last September Dr Wooldridge had promised $5 million in Government funding to help the RACGP establish new headquarters in Canberra.
"Dr Wooldridge's consultancy with the RACGP surprised many in the medical profession," Dr Phelps said.
"As Health Minister, Dr Wooldridge was not always a strong advocate for GPs, and was often quite derisory towards the profession.
"He was also instrumental in stripping the RACGP of its core business - GP training.
"Grassroots GPs were puzzled to say the least when Dr Wooldridge was made a consultant," Dr Phelps said.
Dr Phelps said there were question marks, too, over the motivation to provide funding for a new RACGP HQ in Canberra, particularly at a time of tight Government budgets.
"I notice in the newspaper reports that a condition of the funding for this building is that it would house staff from other GP groups," Dr Phelps said.
"Anybody involved in medical politics and administration would know that such a proposal is total nonsense.
"The major government-financed GP groups and the AMA are already well established in Canberra and would not wish to waste taxpayers' money or member subscriptions in assisting the RACGP move its headquarters from Melbourne, " Dr Phelps said.
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