Happy Friday!
And for those of you joining me in Melbourne — welcome to AMA26!
Yes, the biggest annual event on the AMA calendar is here. As a result, it’s a shorter than usual update from me this week but, rest assured, there will be plenty of updates coming your way post-conference.
We have a packed program here at AMA26, bringing together members from all over Australia to hear and discuss the key opportunities and challenges coming our profession’s way over the coming 12 months, and beyond.
As ever, we’ve been leading the way on raising awareness, through the media, of two just such topics this week.
Our media release calling on the federal government to act urgently on AI-generated deepfakes generated a veritable flurry of broadcast interviews at the start of the week. This technology poses a significant risk to public health through the spread of potentially harmful misinformation and undermining of trust in health professionals.
I sincerely hope our letter to the Prime Minister is heeded and we see the government move swiftly to put in place regulations to enforce the removal of harmful material and help protect Australians.
Various media were back in touch later in the week, following publication of our submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026. That mouthful is referencing our position on the recent government decision to remove the additional rebates on private health insurance premiums for people over 65.
Our warnings that the proposed changes could increase pressure on public hospitals, while undermining private hospitals, generated a range of coverage. We're calling for amendments so that the vulnerable, those on pensions, are better supported to access private health insurance.
Well, back to conference-land. Again, thank you to those of you joining us in Melbourne and for those who couldn’t make it, I look forward to updating you on all things AMA26.
Wherever or however you’re spending your weekend, have a good one.
