The federal Liberal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, says funding for GP clinics will help entice doctors to south-west Victoria.
The federal budget includes more than $50 million worth of infrastructure grants for doctors’ surgeries in regional and rural Australia.
Hamilton-based Mr Tehan says bigger clinics will be able to employ more medical staff.
“This fits with one of our biggest needs in regional and rural areas, to encourage more doctors into our areas,” he said.
Labor’s Stephen Jones says he welcomes the funding but suspects the Government is trying to distract people from major health budget cuts.
“Frankly it’s a bit rich for the Government to be slapping themselves on the back,” he said.
The Government will provide at least 175 grants of up to $300,000 each.