The Coalition recognises the important part that General Practitioners play in delivering health services in regional Australia.

In the 2014/15 Budget the Coalition Government has allocated $52.5 million to rural and regional areas across Australia for general practices to build facilities needed in order for GPs to take on more trainees.

This funding will be delivered through 175 infrastructure grants of up to $300,000 for successful applicants. The practices will be required to make a matched contribution and will provide a substantial benefit to health in regional areas.

The Government has also allocated $35.4 million over two years to provide support through the General Practice Rural Incentives Programme encouraging around 13,000 doctors to work in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

We also have recognised the importance of training places and have committed $40 million over four years to support extra medical intern places in private hospitals and regional areas.  The incentives for general practitioners who teach medical students will also increase from $100 to $200 per session.

The Budget has delivered funding for an additional 300 GPs to be trained each year in Australia.

General practitioners are the backbone of the health network and provide essential services in regional areas and this funding to improve health access in regional areas is very welcome.

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Last week in the House of Representatives, the Coalition again kept faith with the Australian Public by voting to repeal the carbon tax.

The carbon tax should be repealed because the Labor party did not have a mandate for this tax. It is a tax that reduces productivity and has no impact on the environment as emissions just shift offshore.

Scrapping the carbon tax has always been about reducing cost of living pressures. Treasury estimates that the average household will be $550 better off in this financial year without the carbon tax.

The Government has already introduced measures through the ACCC to ensure that the savings are passed on when the carbon tax is repealed. Major energy retailers have committed to passing on savings to customers.

The legislation to repeal the carbon tax will now be dealt with by the new Senate after the 1^st July.  Every indication is that the Senate will support the repeal legislation which is welcome news for households across Australia.