The Government’s commitment to essential services provided reassurance, but for the Australians who will suffer more than 56,000 strokes this year and their families, more is needed.

It was encouraging to see the Government’s continued commitment to improving the health of Australians through funding to our hospitals, Medicare and pharmaceutical benefits systems.

These services are at the heart of our health system and all Australians can have confidence in continued access to health care, however it is important to recognise not all access is equal.

Currently, there is no guarantee all Australians will have access to the best practice stroke care we know saves lives and reduces disability.

In fact we know many will not.

Regional Australians are among those most impacted.

Research shows regional Australians were 19 per cent more likely to have a stroke than their metropolitan counterparts.

Regional Australians are also more likely to die from a stroke or be left with an ongoing disability simply because they do not have access to specialist stroke treatment and care.

This Budget acknowledges current inequalities within the health system, by increasing focus on improving health services for rural and regional Australians.

This is an important first step, but I would implore the Government to take them further.

There is an enormous opportunity to improve health services for rural and regional Australia by utilising digital health technologies and establishing a national telehealth network.

Too many Australians are dying or being left with an ongoing disability as a result of stroke.

Patient outcomes vary depending on where you live and your access to time-critical treatment.

This needs to change.

It is exciting to see the Government build on its investment in research.

Sharon McGowan, CEO Stroke Foundation.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk seemed puzzled about why she was given a frosty reception at Beef Australia this month.

The best explanation she could come up with was farmers were upset because they didn’t understand the new vegetation management laws.

To her surprise, some farmers took the Premier’s visit as an opportunity to voice their concerns face to face, an opportunity that until then they had been denied.

It is incredibly arrogant of this Premier and her government to blatantly misunderstand the hurt and frustration Queensland farmers are feeling because of these laws and then to accuse them of lacking understanding. That really is a new depth in the city-country divide.

The Premier’s proposed propaganda campaign to tell farmers what they already know about these laws is treating farmers like fools. I want to personally thank all of the graziers and farmers for the warm welcome they gave Deb Frecklington and me, especially the many who took the time to talk to me. It was inspiring to hear directly from people within the Queensland beef industry who are committed to growing and progressing their industry, despite the barriers the Palaszczuk Government has brought in. 

- Opposition agriculture spokesman, Tony Perrett