It was disappointing to hear that the Liberal-National Coalition decided not to fund the Murray Darling Medical School (MDMS) as part of this election campaign.
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While The Nationals committed to deliver the MDMS in the 2013 election, and fought hard to secure this for their electorates, it was ultimately a promise they could not fulfil without agreement within the Coalition.
While the decision defers the establishment of a rural medical school, it does not defer the consequences of rural doctor shortages.
Unless there is increased training of students in rural areas in preparation for rural practice, rural doctor shortages will continue. Rural nurses and GPs will continue to be overworked. And up to 6,000 rural Australians will die unnecessarily every year due to a higher incidence of chronic disease and poorer access to primary health care services.
The decision also defers the enormous benefits a rural medical school will bring to our region.
Economic data prepared by Western Region Institute shows that in Orange alone the MDMS would create 170 full-time equivalent jobs, $23.18 million in gross regional product and $13.79 million in household income every year in Orange when fully operational.
While a decision on the school has been deferred, the people of Orange and the Central West still expect the problem of rural doctor shortages to be addressed.
They will be expecting the Coalition, if it forms government, to show that they take rural doctor shortages seriously and deliver on their promise to establish the MDMS.
Charles Sturt University will continue to remind the Coalition of its responsibilities to rural communities.