QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr GEE (Calare) (14:24): My question is to the health minister. The rural doctor shortage crisis is a disgrace and a shameful indictment. The Charles Sturt University School of Rural Medicine in the central west of New South Wales is training doctors in the bush for practice in the bush but for half a decade has been restricted by the government to only 37 Commonwealth supported student places each year.

This isn't good enough. When will your government deliver more medical student places to Charles Sturt University so it can train more country doctors that are so desperately needed?