Media Release

The towns of Cairns and Yarrabah are on the same rural classification when it comes to Health Care and staffing yet they could not be more apart, says KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter.

The Federal Government is being asked to review the remote and rural classifications as they pertain to places like Tully and Yarrabah. At present, both of those towns fall within the same remote and rural classification as Cairns.

Mr Katter today called on the Federal Health Minister to provide appropriate classification to attract new staff to the smaller areas.

“Health Care is one of the most important services in small communities and we need good staff in our smaller towns.

“Cairns, with its plethora of restaurants, 5 star hotels and one of the world’s most prominent tourist destinations is currently treated the same as Yarrabah, Tully or Doomadgee.

“My electorate office has received a surge of complaints recently about the disparity in allowances.

“The hospitals outside of Cairns are under staffed and the care and resources available to patients is affected as a result.

“Who would go to Tully when the same pay and conditions are available at Cairns,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has written to the Federal Health Minister asking her to identify and classify the hospitals that are outside of the main centers to attract higher staffing numbers by allowing additional allowances and benefits to those willing to relocate.