That portfolio was previously held by Nationals deputy leader Senator Bridget McKenzie, and while she “will remain responsible for rural health” the removal of the portfolio has alarmed many, including John Crosby.

Mr Crosby, a Parkinson’s Disease sufferer, and his committee met with Ms McKenzie in Tamworth last month as part of, what is now, an eight year battle to have the region serviced by a specialist neurological nurse.

“The fact that they have done away with the portfolio is very disappointing,” he said.

“I know Bridget (McKenzie) is still looking after it, but it won’t have the same clout.

“It is another sign that people in the cities, like most bureaucrats are, don’t have any idea about what is going on in the bush.” 

National Rural Health Alliance Chair Tanya Lehmann has called “upon the Morrison Government to demonstrate it is fair dinkum about improving the health and wellbeing of rural Australians by reinstating the portfolio.”

“At a time when great swathes of rural and remote Australia are experiencing the impact of devastating drought, including significant impacts on the health and well being of communities, the key portfolio of Rural Health is nowhere in sight,” she said.

‘We need a genuine, high level commitment to deliver a new National Rural Health Strategy that will address the unacceptable gap in health outcomes for rural Australians. This is not the time to be relegating Rural Health to the back burner.”

While Mr Crosby said the majority of health services fall under the state government, taking the federal portfolio away is a step backwards.

“While it may not make things any harder it certainly won’t help,” he said.

“We have nowhere near the services or support people have in the cities – there are only two neurologists between Muswellbrook and the border.” 

Australians in remote areas are 1.4 times more likely to die, four times more likely to be hospitalised due to diabetes, and 1.7 times more likely to commit suicide than our city counterparts.