Rural councils push for $200 million GP support plan
07 May 2026
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) launched a six-point healthcare plan aimed at boosting GP recruitment in hard-to-fill areas and improving access to primary care for underserved communities.
The proposal comes as many rural towns continue to struggle with GP shortages and limited healthcare services.
LGNSW said councils are increasingly using local ratepayer money to keep medical services running because of gaps in government funding.
The organisation is also calling for a separate $20 million support program to reduce the financial pressure placed on councils funding local healthcare services.
LGNSW President Darcy Byrne said many councils have stepped in to support healthcare because communities would otherwise lose access to essential medical care.
Examples include councils helping cover the costs of clinics, workforce housing, travel, vehicles and locum doctors.
The RACGP said the growing involvement of councils highlights ongoing problems with the current Medicare funding system in rural Australia.
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements said Medicare alone is not enough to keep many rural practices financially sustainable.
He said local councils often understand the needs of their communities best and can play an important role in supporting healthcare access.
One example highlighted in the report was Bogan Shire Council, which has operated the region’s only medical centre for the past nine years after the area risked losing local GP services.
The clinic now supports around 3400 active patients, but council subsidies of more than $600,000 a year are needed to keep the service operating.
Similar pressures are being seen in Western Australia, where local governments are contributing millions of dollars to support GP services in small rural towns.
Health leaders say the current Medicare model was designed around large patient numbers and does not properly support the longer consultations, smaller populations and higher operating costs common in rural communities.
Categories
- MBS
- PBS
- The Department Of Health And Aged Care
- RACGP
- NIP
- AHPRA
- NSW Health
- Queensland Health
- Victoria Health
- Tasmania News
- Western Australia
- SA Health
- NT HEALTH
- Pharmacy Board Of Ahpra
- National Asthma Council
- NT
- AMA
- NACCHO
- BCNA
- Australian College Of Nurse Practitioners
- Asthma Australia
- LFA
- Palliative Care
- Primary Health Network
- AIHW
- Children's Health Queenland
- Kidney Health
- CHF
- MHC
- Gold Coast
- Tsa
- TGA
Popular Posts
Recent Posts
Tags
- Environmental health National Health and Climate Strategy environmental-health-national-health-and-climate-strategy