Policy and Advocacy Library
The library is the culmination of the collaborative work of RACP members and comprises a comprehensive range of evidence-based, published RACP position statements, policies and submissions.
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Description
Our submission to the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 welcomes the Bill as a good first step, but calls for a clearer path to ending all gambling advertising, a ban on inducements like bonus bets, and stronger protections to reduce harm for people and their families.
Description
The RACP submission sets out key priorities across community inclusion, health and wellbeing, safety and opportunity, alongside system-wide reforms to help deliver better outcomes for Victorians.
Description
The RACP submission highlights priorities across education, wellbeing, safety, community connection and participation. The submission sets out recommendations to improve outcomes for children and young people throughout NSW.
Description
The RACP provided feedback to the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) on its draft professional standards for Physician Associates (PAs). The RACP emphasised the importance of patient safety and the need for robust standards that reflect the unique context of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system. We also expressed disappointment with the Minister of Health’s decision to retain the title of “Physician Associate”, which may create confusion for patients and the wider public.
Description
The RACP submission responds to the Department’s consultation on Sharing by Default for online prescribing to My Health Record (MHR). It supports the reform but calls for clarity on how requirements apply to physicians using mixed digital modalities, mandatory structured medicines information, no exemptions for direct-to-consumer models, notification of regular prescribers for high-risk prescriptions, clearer privacy/liability guidance alongside improved MHR usability and specialist incentives.
Topic
Occupational and environmental health
Description
The National Transport Commission (NTC) undertook Phase 1 of its review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive (AFTD) Standards (2022). Fitness to drive assessments are a key medical service and contribute to patient and road safety. Physicians from Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine, Addiction Medicine and General Medicine provided a list of issues for the next edition of the Standards.
Published in
SA, Australia
Description
The RACP recommends strengthening South Australia’s Strategic Plan for Preventive Health Action 2026–2034 by building a sustainable physician and public health workforce, increasing and transparently monitoring preventive health investment, strengthening prevention across the life course, addressing health inequities, integrating prevention into healthcare settings, tackling social determinants of health, and embedding health considerations across government policy and planning.
Published in
NT, Australia
Topic
Child health and young adult medicine
Description
The RACP provided feedback on the Northern Territory Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026. The RACP supports reforms that strengthen the safety, health, wellbeing and rights of children and young people in the NT but is concerned the proposed changes would remove the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families to participate, or be supported to participate, in decisions about the child.
Description
Our submission to IHACPA's Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2027–28 calls for a broader definition of value in hospital pricing, one that captures patient outcomes, experience, safety and complexity alongside cost, with stronger recognition of care coordination and equitable resourcing for Indigenous, disability, paediatric and rural communities.
Description
The RACP submission to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner addresses guidance on transparency in Automated Decision-Making (ADM). It argues that guidance must be practical, accessible, and reflect how ADM is used in healthcare. It recommends aligning with existing laws, clarifying transparency for clinicians and patients, addressing bias risks, and establishing accountability for developers, alongside adaptive, continuous regulation.
