Media Release | 31 July 2025
Kirrilee Warr MLA
Shadow Minister for Local Government
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Kirrilee Warr MLA, is urging the State Government to step in and provide support to attract rural general practitioners, warning that local government cannot continue to carry the burden of delivering these essential health services.
The call comes following a number of rural local governments in WA stepping in to secure a GP for their communities – highlighting a growing crisis across the state.
“Whether you live in rural WA or metropolitan Perth, every Western Australian deserves access to basic healthcare,” Ms Warr said.
“It is completely unreasonable to expect small local governments to fund and manage primary healthcare services that are clearly the responsibility of higher levels of government.”
In recent years, an increasing number of regional councils have been forced to directly source and fund doctors for their communities.
Some local governments have offered salary packages of up to $350,000, along with housing, to attract GPs.
A recent report by the Local Government Rural Health Funding Alliance made up of six WA councils found those shires collectively contributed $1.47 million to maintain GP services, representing up to 16% of their rates revenue.
“Let’s be clear: local governments do not have the rate base or mandate to provide healthcare,” Ms Warr said.
“The State Government must acknowledge this growing problem and deliver proper funding and a longterm plan to support rural health services.”
Ms Warr said the strain on local councils was unsustainable and risked worsening the rural health gap.
“Local governments are already under enormous pressure when it comes to roads, waste, planning, and compliance. Expecting them to also run GP services is unrealistic and unfair,” she said.
“The State must act to fill the gaps in the system and provide a sustainable model for regional healthcare delivery.”
Ms Warr reaffirmed her commitment to advocate for rural communities, confirming she is continuing discussions with stakeholders and will press the Government for urgent action.
ENDS
