Relaxation of 10-year moratorium

Lifted from uqms.org:

http://www.6minutes.com.au/articles/z1/view.asp?id=503067

"Changes to the 10-year moratorium rules will exempt New Zealand-born doctors and also shorten the moratorium for many doctors by abolishing permanent residency criteria.

"Health minister Nicola Roxon has introduced draft legislation in parliament that will effectively give New Zealand-born doctors the same rights as Australian medical graduates and will also recognize degrees from NZ universities.

"The amendments will also stipulate that the 10-year moratorium on Medicare services starts as soon as a doctor become registered in Australia rather than when they take up permanent residency.
...

"The minister also announced plans to scale the length of the moratorium to the degree of remoteness, “so that the more remote you go, the shorter the moratorium.

...

"The changes to the moratorium are expected to come into effect from 1 April 2010, says the minister. At that time, some overseas-trained doctors will immediately be considered to have completed their 10 year moratorium, and may apply for a Medicare number, the legislation says..."

Apologies for the near duplication, but this is the original relevant thread...

Roxon's bill passed in February, with wording as was proposed:

[bill passed]
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/R4227

[explanatory memorandum]
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r4227_ems_6ae29e2a-2801-4a93-8636-f1c144b3391c/upload_pdf/335176.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

[bill text]
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/bills/r4227_aspassed/toc_pdf/09206b01.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf

So along with The Moratorium being reducible to 5 years, it now starts as soon as internship is completed (and is retroactive).