General Topics
By Crispin Hull*
Practice owners in at least four states are squarely in the sights of state revenue offices seeking payroll tax on payments made to GPs in their practices.
There have been a couple of frightening courts cases imposing payroll taxes on GP practice owners or like set-ups.
Read moreSaturday 14 November 2020.
The Department of Urology and University of Melbourne Department of Surgery and the Austin Hospital will host a virtual symposium on Saturday 14 November 2020 from 8am to 2.45pm. The symposium is titled: Urology issues for GPs and practice nurses.
The registration page is here: https://bit.ly/38bXPnL Registration is free.
Read moreAustralian GP Alliance members are well presented in the 2020 RACGP Awards with three of the current Board winning their state categories and now contesting the national title, demonstrating the value of Principal Led General Practice.
Read moreThe Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has ruled out setting up an Australian Centre for Disease Control, despite widespread support for it among medical professionals and scientists.
The Federal Opposition is also in favour.
Health organisations supporting a CDC include: the Australian Medical Association; Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, and the Public Health Association. It is also supported by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
KEY POINTS: Govt rejects CDC; reasons for doing so; ALP medical professions support it; case for CDC; how politics is getting in the way of a CDC.
Read moreOn 6 August the Australian GP Alliance conducted a webinar to allow the candidates for the Presidency of the RACGP to address issues of interest to Practice Principals.
The candidates:
Dr John Buckley
Dr Charlotte Hespe
Dr Chris Irwin
Dr Karen Price
Dr Ayman Shenouda
Dr Magdalena Simonis
“It is with great sadness that we note the death of Dr Harry Nespolon”, Dr John Deery, Chair Australian GP Alliance, said today.
The Australian GP Alliance Board, on behalf of all members extends its deepest condolences to his partner and children, friends and colleagues.
“Harry lead the RACGP and represented the interests of General Practice with energy and commitment, and was particularly inspirational during the last six months where, despite a terminal diagnosis, he provided leadership for both the nation and the profession at a time of crisis”.
“General practice is the cornerstone of primary health care in Australia, and Dr Harry Nespolon understood the critical importance for General Practice to be both vibrant and viable to deliver the high quality of primary healthcare that Australians expect”, Dr Deery said.
“He worked hard to maintain funding at a critical time and to try to make sure that the small businesses that are GP Practices are viable business entities. Harry was well aware that unless these small business are viable the platform to deliver high quality primary healthcare will not exist, and the health of Australians will suffer accordingly.
“He also stood against attempts to reduce the quality of primary healthcare by opposing the use of paramedical personnel to diagnose and prescribe, despite determined lobbying from industry organisations representing the paramedical interests”, Dr Deery said.
General Practice has lost a committed leader, and while the profession will continue to deliver the healthcare that Australians need, for this moment we pause in reflection of a life well lived in support of Australia and the profession of General Practice.
