Australians living in the city and country deserve the same health outcomes, Labor argues, as it seeks bipartisan support on a rural health strategy.
"We think that a national rural health strategy is an important step to ensuring we have a defined roadmap to improving health outcomes for Australians living outside our big cities," opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said on Wednesday evening.
Ms King announced Labor's support for a strategy at the National Rural Health Conference in Cairns, saying the challenges some groups faced demanded more targeted support.
The opposition has backed the government establishing a rural health commissioner, but warns the single role will not be a cure-all for the inequality.
"We still need to have an understanding of where we are going, and what we are trying to achieve in rural heath," Labor MP Tony Zappia said.
"A national rural health strategy would help achieve this goal of all levels of government working more closely together, to reduce fragmentation and duplication."
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