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
The RACP argues challenges in specialist access stem from workforce maldistribution, limited public capacity, higher patient complexity, affordability barriers and suboptimal referral pathways. The submission outlines priority actions: access monitoring, MBS reform, expanded rural training, better specialist outreach, streamlined referral pathways and innovative models of care. A related submission addresses specialist affordability by focusing on excessive fees.
Description
The RACP's submission to the Inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people highlights the profound impacts of systemic racism on health outcomes, patient safety and access to culturally safe healthcare.
Description
The RACP supports the draft NSW Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2026-2036's harm minimisation approach but calls for funded, measurable action. Its 14 recommendations include increased treatment funding, a larger addiction medicine workforce, stronger alcohol policy including a minimum floor price, expanded harm reduction measures such as community drug checking, Aboriginal self-determination, addiction medicine representation in governance, and public reporting on outcomes.
Description
Our submission to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's consultation on excessive specialist fees supports a staged approach, prioritising better data, transparency, informed financial consent and a fair review process. It calls for further work with colleges, the CPMC and specialty societies to define an excessive fee, and stresses that affordability also depends on Medicare rebate reform, workforce planning and public outpatient capacity.
Description
The RACP broadly supports the Federal Government’s proposed private health reforms aiming to improve neonatal care, hospital in the home services and rural and remote private hospital funding. Our recommendations aim to reduce pressure on the hospital sector, optimise physician workforce distribution and improve patient access to innovative, sustainable physician-led care models.
Topic
Informed financial consent
Description
The College's submission on IFC backs education, guidance and voluntary compliance over legislative change as the most pragmatic approach to IFC. It argues that both practitioners and patients need clear guidance and practical implementation tools before regulators reach for enforcement.
Description
Our comment on the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medicines Shortages and Other Measures) Bill 2026 strongly supports its proposals for transparency and earlier notice of medicine shortages and discontinuations from medicine sponsors. These reforms will help physicians make informed prescribing decisions, improve care coordination across the health system and give patients greater certainty of supply. We also call for further reforms to better manage Australia's medicines supply.
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.
