AMA VICDOC Autumn 2024 - Magazine - Page 78
A M AV A DVO CACY
GENERAL PRACTICE
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On 29 February, AMA
Victoria met with the
Victorian Treasurer,
the Hon. Tim Pallas
MP, to discuss the welldocumented financial
and workforce challenges
currently faced by Victorian
general practice. These
challenges include, but are
not limited to, the pressing
issue of payroll tax.
During the meeting,
the Treasurer recognised
the pivotal role of
general practice in the
Victorian health system
and acknowledged the
concerns expressed by
many practices regarding
payroll tax. He has
committed to ongoing
constructive collaboration
with the sector to offer
certainty and reassurance.
In support of this
commitment, the Treasurer
announced that a $10
million co-designed scheme
would be developed to aid
the delivery of general
practice services, and
the establishment of a
General Practice Support
and Recovery Working
Group (involving officials
from Treasury and the
Health Ministers Office in
addition to representatives
from AMAV and other
representative bodies),
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AMA VI C TO RIA
to develop the scheme.
Furthermore, in the
immediate future, ex gratia
relief will be provided
to practices facing
payroll tax compliance
issues, contingent on a
demonstration of good
faith in compliance efforts,
and financial hardship. In
this context, the Treasurer
explicitly expressed no
desire for practices to close
and no targeting of general
practices by the State
Revenue Office.
Given that AMAV has
been advocating for a
General Practice Support
and Recovery Strategy
for Victoria since October
2023, this was a most
gratifying announcement
and a testament to the
strength of our advocacy
and influence.
This positive
development follows recent
announcements by the
Victorian Government
regarding the Victorian
General Practitioner (GP)
Trainee Grants Program
and a Single Employer
Model trial for GP
Registrars in 2025
(see more on this later
in the article).
While specific details
of the Treasurer's
announcement are yet
to be revealed (these
are expected to be
communicated in the
coming weeks), we are
committed to ensuring that
our advocated priorities are
incorporated for the benefit
of practices, practitioners,
and patients. This includes
not only addressing the
payroll tax issue and
exploring Single Employer
Model trials, but beneficial
data sharing, mitigating
disruptions caused by
state-initiated pharmacy
prescribing measures to
GP-led team-based care,
addressing intersections
with Priority Primary
Care Centres and the
Victorian Virtual Emergency
Department, and improving
GP/hospital transfer of care
arrangements.
PAYROLL TAX
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AMA Victoria has continued
to raise the matter of
payroll tax on medical
practices in meetings
with Government and
Department of Health
throughout summer, and
most recently with the
Department of Health
Secretary, the Premier’s
Office, and the Treasurer.
We are meeting quarterly
with the State Revenue
Office (SRO) on this issue.
While AMAV continues
to advocate for a political
resolution to this issue,
