Attraction and retention of rural and regional Doctors is key

May 18, 2022

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter, says doctor attraction and retention are key to reducing the doctor shortage in rural and regional Australia.


The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MP, wants medical graduates to complete two years’ service in the regions immediately after they graduate to attract them to the regions.


Mr Katter also wants the Federal Government to pay doctors serving in rural and regional areas an extra $80,000 a year to retain them. 

“Under the Bjelke-Petersen Qld Government that I was a Minister in, we never had doctor shortages because if you wanted to become a doctor in Queensland you did your two years in the regions,” Mr Katter said.


“It really is not that difficult a problem, the governments must act. It will not be a great cost to the taxpayer. It won’t be a lot of money.


“People are in pain waiting for doctors. People are dying waiting for doctors. The answers are there right now.


Mr Katter took a delegation of general practitioners from his electorate including Dr Grant Manypeney (Mareeba), Dr Rod Catton (Innisfail) and Dr Lisa Fraser (Gordonvale) down to Canberra to discuss these issues with the Health Minister, Greg Hunt, in June last year.


“Two of the doctors in my electorate, Grant Manypeney from Mareeba and Rod Catton from Innisfail, are working into their 70s,” Mr Katter said. 


“They are still working because they don’t want to let their communities down.


“Which ever party forms government this Saturday must act to implement policies that will attract and retain doctors to rural and regional areas.”



-ENDS- 

October 12, 2026
Bob: “Back in my day, we used an automatic gate opener.” Wendi: “I have one. The gate just automatically opened for me.”
October 12, 2026
Bloody Alex and his inner-city trendy accent… It’s pronounced “Boulia” ya drongo!
October 12, 2026
Radicalisation is happening NOW in Australia. If the alleged terrorist was radicalised in Australia… The threat is frankly, not only at our doorstep, it’s in our house! If this is not a warning shot that government needs to better protect our borders than what will be? For too long our government has allowed hatred and extremism to persist... branding anyone that speaks against such groups as ‘racist’ and ‘far right’. Australia should be a land of hope not hate... a land of opportunity… freedom … and fun. Government immediately stop allowing extremism under the guise of multiculturalism. Stop allowing those that hate our society and our way of life to live on our shores. Instead welcome those who value our cultures and beliefs.
October 8, 2026
In FNQ towns like Innisfail, Tully, Mission Beach, Atherton, Tolga, Mareeba and Lakeland, the banana industry is part of the very fabric of the community. Similarly around Coffs Harbour in NSW and Carnarvon WA. Thousands of wonderful people: 🍌 grow or work on banana farms 🚜 mechanics fix our tractors ⛏️ rural suppliers provide our equipment 🚚 trucks transport our fruit 📦 packaging companies provide our boxes 🏗️ engineering works make our trailers 🚜 earth movers fix our headlands and many others contribute proudly. We love our AUSTRALIAN BANANAS.
October 5, 2026
Mabel - A travelling irrigator like no other to soak the parched, rich black soil plains of the mid-west. Bob has a dream for untold economic wealth and prosperity...  with dams, roads, rail, ports to facilitate huge agricultural, mining and processing growth. Bob met with the lads at JAM (Johnstone Agricultural Machinery) to share this dream and discuss his plans for ‘Mabel’ the travelling irrigator!
October 4, 2026
Woke, identity politics is killing Australia. We’re free. We’re capable of responsibility. We know who we. We know what we want to do. Stop telling us what we can and can’t do, and who we should and shouldn’t be.
October 3, 2026
Mythical ‘tribal’ groups own millions of hectares across Australia. Sure these groups earn millions in administration, houses and limited community facilities are built, but no individual title deeds are ever available. Not one single First Australian can own their own house on community lands. They can’t renovate or improve with pride, they can’t start a business, they can’t use the equity in their house as collateral… they have absolutely no means to improve their families finances unless they leave the region they call home. Successive governments keep throwing money at these communities but they will not remove the economic handcuffs that would allow businesses to grow, and homes and businesses to be built with pride through hard work and sacrifice.
September 29, 2026
AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BETTER USE OUR GREAT MINERAL, AGRICULTURAL AND LAND WEALTH Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Our mineral resources are vast. Our agricultural potential is huge. We have millions of hectares of land unutilised or under-utilised. Australians should be swimming in wealth …. NOT drowning in debt. Successive governments have slowed our economy to a grinding halt in a ruthless pursuit of a WOKE agenda. A REVOLUTION is coming… Australians are starting to fight back against the corporate and political elite that have sold and squandered our great Nation. It’s about time that government starts governing for the betterment of Australians or GET OUT and let the independent fighters that TRUELY represent their electorates and Australia have a go!!!!
By Dominique Moon • September 29, 2026
Everyday, wonderful and courageous men and women of our police forces put their personal safety to the side to protect Australians. Most make it home… some, tragically, do not. Today we remember and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.