Further Progress on Intern Places but Big States still Holding Out
The AMA welcomes the announcement from Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, that Queensland and the Northern Territory have joined Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory in reaching agreement with the Commonwealth to fund medical intern places in public and private hospitals.
This brings the total number of additional funded intern places for 2013 to 116 – 84 from the Commonwealth and 32 from the participating States and Territories.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that while the progress to date is very encouraging the career prospects of 64 medical graduates remain in limbo.
“The bigger States have to enter into the spirit of cooperation shown by the other governments and do their bit to fund the nation’s future medical workforce,” Dr Hambleton said.
“This is not the time for the blame game or political point scoring - it is the time for action and doing the right thing.”
The current breakdown is:
- Queensland: 40 Commonwealth places, 18 State places
- Western Australia: 32 Commonwealth places, 8 State places
- ACT: 10 Commonwealth places, 5 Territory places
- NT: 2 Commonwealth places, 1 Territory place
9 November 2012
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761