Key Proposals for Health System Improvement
General practitioners in Tasmania are ready to assist the state’s health system, proposing several key improvements during meetings with state politicians on 18th May.
Six GPs and a medical student, representing the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), visited the Tasmanian Parliament to conduct health checks and discuss the health system challenges with MPs.
Dr Toby Gardner, RACGP Tasmania Chair, emphasised the need for budget-conscious solutions that address the concerns of patients and politicians alike. “Our patients are worried about their costs, our politicians are looking for savings,” he said.
GPs Advocate for System Reforms
A major focus is the removal of payroll tax obligations for GP registrars, which currently disincentivizes training due to salary thresholds. Dr Gardner noted, “This is a handbrake on the number of GPs we can train in Tasmania.”
Infrastructure support grants are proposed to enhance training capabilities in rural and regional practices. This would help address structural limitations and expand GP training in these areas.
Another priority is redirecting funds from a pharmacy scope-of-practice expansion pilot to embed pharmacists in aged care facilities. Dr Gardner argued this would provide more integrated and cost-effective care for vulnerable residents.
The RACGP suggests supporting the integration of GPs with Special Interests into public outpatient clinics to reduce wait times and improve patient access to care.
Finally, the college calls for fair remuneration for GPs involved in Clinical Networks to encourage wider participation in these valuable programmes.
The Tasmanian Government will announce its budget on 21st May, with the proposed changes aimed at delivering significant benefits to the health system without impacting the budget’s bottom line.
According to Dr Gardner, Tasmania has the highest burden of chronic disease of any Australian state, which adds urgency to the need for effective healthcare reforms.
Since the number of future GPs training with the RACGP surged by 57% in 2025, and an additional 19% this year, there’s a clear demand for increased training capacity. Currently, 159 GPs are in training at 78 Tasmanian practices.
The RACGP’s pre-budget submission for 2026–27 outlines these priorities, aiming to remove barriers and improve healthcare access for all Tasmanians.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 12:05 pm
