Community
24 April, 2025
Dyson announces healthcare plans
INDEPENDENT candidate for Wannon, Alex Dyson, has announced plans for a “better deal on healthcare for south west Victorians.”
Mr Dyson said his plans would see more doctors and healthcare workers, a cut in waitlists and lower healthcare fees.
“In my thousands of conversations across our region, many people have told me that they are struggling to pay the rising cost of seeing a doctor,” Mr Dyson said.
“The problem is not just rising prices, but getting access; it can take months to see a local GP and years to see a specialist, with many towns losing access to local services altogether.
“It’s clear that the current system is not working for Wannon, which is why we need a local MP who will fight for our unique needs and will work with whoever is in government to get results.”
Mr Dyson said that his plan responds directly to local challenges, and contains a range of measures endorsed by experts from the National Rural Health Alliance, the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Key measures announced by Mr Dyson include a $2 billion Building Rural Hospitals fund to deliver critical local hospital upgrades and increasing medical training places in Wannon to create a regional workforce that wants to live in the area and understands its unique needs.
He will also work to increase rebates for long consults in regional areas, making it cheaper and easier to address multiple health issues in one appointment, reducing strain for doctors and patients.
He also highlighted plans for a $1 billion National Rural Health Fund – creating a safety-net to keep essential care services operating in smaller communities, and helping attract and retain health workers to rural areas.
“I will also look to support innovate models of care for smaller communities, allowing nurse practitioners and qualified allied health workers to deliver greater levels of care,” Mr Dyson said.
“Investing in these measures would make a huge difference for the nearly one-third of Australians who live in rural and regional areas.
“This would send a powerful message - we matter, our health matters, and we deserve access to quality primary healthcare, close to home.”
Supporting Mr Dyson’s plans, western district public health practitioner Dr Rob Grenfell knows the problems all too well.
“As a local resident I have long had concerns about the state of rural health,” Dr Grenfell said.
“The shortage of GPs in our local area is really quite a problem.
“Over decades, there have been many promises by both the major parties but nothing has happened.
“The lack of local GPs is the result of 20 years of policy failure, and the health outcomes of rural people are all the poorer for it.
“Alex Dyson has a sensible policy to address GP shortages and access to healthcare. We need an Independent MP who is answerable to the people - not a major party.”
Warrnambool GP, Dr Kate Carison, said that increasing rebates for long consults would make a huge difference in regional areas, saving time and stress for both doctors and patients.
“Unfortunately, the waitlists for most local GPs are weeks or even months long which means many patients arrive with multiple health issues that can’t be treated in a quick, less detailed appointment,” Dr Carison said.
“By making long consults more affordable, doctors can give more comprehensive care, and resolve multiple issues in one go; reducing unnecessary follow-up appointments, and bringing waitlists down.”
South West GP Dr Karoline Gunn, said that boosting the regional healthcare workforce was a vital part of improving healthcare services for Wannon.
“We know that healthcare professionals who train in regional areas are much more likely to work in regional areas, and will have a much better understanding of the needs of regional communities.”
