AMA (NSW), Media Release, 17 November 2025

AMA (NSW) supports the Rural Health Action Plan put forward by Dr Joe McGirr MP today and is calling on the NSW Government to take immediate action.

The April to June 2025 Bureau of Health Information report showed only 65.1 per cent of elective surgeries at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital were completed on time, a fall of 15.8 percentage points from the previous year. The median waiting time for non-urgent surgery has reached 370 days, exceeding the clinically recommended 365 days.

“These figures confirm what rural communities already know. Regional health has been underfunded, underplanned and deprioritised for far too long,” AMA (NSW) president Dr Kathryn Austin said.

“Rural NSW does not need another round of announcements. It needs long-term funding that strengthens the workforce, expands local services and delivers real structural reform. Crisis spending after years of inaction is not leadership. The NSW Government must commit to Rural Health Action Plan in full.”

Dr Austin said the action plan reflected AMA (NSW)’s priorities, including investment in permanent, local staff and restoring safe, medically led maternity care.

“Maternity care must be obstetrician or GP obstetrician led and supported by multidisciplinary teams. Rural families deserve safe, local care that meets service capability standards,” she said.

AMA (NSW) also supports an independent Rural Health Commissioner to drive accountability and ensure rural communities are engaged in culturally safe and genuine ways.

“One-off funding does not fix structural failures. The BHI data shows the consequences of neglect. The NSW Government must shift from reaction to reform,” Dr Austin said.

“Dr McGirr’s Rural Health Action Plan provides a path forward. AMA (NSW) is proud to support it and ready to work with government to deliver the long-term improvements rural communities urgently need.