Parliament calls for longer consultations and stronger AOD training
18 Sep 2026
The Federal Health, Aged Care and Disability Standing Committee released its report on 14 September, making 30 recommendations following its inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs.
The committee examined whether current policies provide enough support to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug-related harm affecting individuals, families and communities.
One recommendation was for the Australian Government to improve access to care by funding longer consultations through Medicare.
The committee also recommended that the Government work with medical colleges to make alcohol and other drug training a required part of medical education.
Other recommendations included stronger regulation of alcohol advertising and marketing, national standards for online alcohol sales and delivery, and greater support for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The report said awareness of the risks linked to alcohol use during pregnancy and FASD remains low in Australia.
The committee also recognised some declines in alcohol and other drug use but said significant levels of harm continue. It noted that these harms are not experienced equally across different population groups, genders and areas of Australia.
Dr Hester Wilson, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Addiction Medicine, broadly supported the recommendations and welcomed the focus on longer consultations.
She also highlighted the importance of addressing the needs of people living with complex and chronic health conditions alongside alcohol and other drug problems.
Dr Wilson said some people can access specialist drug and alcohol services but may struggle to receive broader, ongoing healthcare.
She also raised concerns that expanding the number of health professionals involved in AOD screening, early intervention and prescribing could lead to care becoming separated between different services.
She said GPs, addiction specialists, nurses, pharmacists, counsellors and peer workers need to work together so people with complex needs can receive coordinated care.
The committee's Deputy Chair, Kooyong Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan, also called for greater attention to telehealth prescribing of unapproved peptides.
She said this area was not covered by the report and called for a separate review of telehealth prescribing in Australia, including the prescribing of peptides and other emerging or unapproved substances.
Parliament calls for longer consultations and stronger AOD training
Source: RACGP newsGP