AMA elects president

MELBOURNE GP Tony Bartone has been elected the new president of the Australian Medical Association.

He takes over from Dr Michael Gannon, who has served in the role for two years.

Dr Bartone beat Professor Brad Frankum and Dr Gino Pecoraro at a vote in Canberra yesterday.

He hopes to raise the profile of general practice, which he says has been systematically starved of funding.

“The time for rhetoric is over,” he said. “We need to see real action now.”