News

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All resolutions passed at 66th RACGP AGM

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This article was updated on Tuesday 28 November at 9.15 am to include the total number of members who voted on each resolution.

The 66th RACGP Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a night of change, with six amendments made to the Constitution and a host of new faces confirmed to the college’s Board.
 
Held at the RACGP’s national office in Melbourne/Naarm office on Thursday evening, the event also allowed members to have their say on director and President renumeration, as well as hear from college leadership about the past 12 months.
 
RACGP Board Chair Dr Lara Roeske spoke to newsGP following its conclusion and said the unanimous approval of all proposed resolutions represented a vote of confidence for the future of the college and its leadership.
 
‘We’re really delighted with the outcome,’ she said.
 
‘Our members are right behind us in terms of continuing to modernise our governance processes and indeed the very Constitution we have.
 
‘We can see the pretty clear results, with a lot of members voting in high proportions across all of the resolutions.’
 
Attendance at the hybrid event comprised 38 in-person members and 82 online attendees, plus Board members and a returning officer.
 
The 2023 AGM notice included:
 

• three Ordinary Resolutions relating to director and President remuneration, requiring a ‘yes’ vote of over 50% for each resolution
• six Special Resolutions for constitutional amendments to tighten up the RACGP’s governance practices, requiring a ‘yes’ vote of over 75% for each resolution.

 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins officially opened the AGM at 7.00 pm with an Acknowledgement of Country and declaration of quorum.
 
Directors then presented their reports, starting with RACGP Board Chair Dr Lara Roeske.
 
Afterwards, Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee and Co-opted Board Director, Scott King, provided a high-level summary of the college’s financials, which was followed by a detailed accounting of the Financial Report from Chief Financial Officer Pranay Lodhiya, who also opened the floor to questions from members.
 
The stage was then handed over to Dr Higgins to present her President’s report.
 
‘It has been a year of transformation for the college – a year in which we navigated our way through a rapidly changing environment,’ she said.
 
‘We had to make difficult decisions. Difficult but necessary to ensure that your college continues to thrive and deliver value for our members, for a long time to come.
 
‘The RACGP exists for our members, we are the RACGP.
 
‘I have never been prouder of what I do, not only as your President, but also as a GP, practice owner and supervisor in Mackay. I am here to serve you, my patients and community, each and every day.
 
‘As GPs, we are stronger when we stand together, and speak together. My commitment is to be the voice of our members, and I’m proud to represent you and our profession in what is such a pivotal time for general practice in our nation.’
 
The AGM’s Ordinary Resolutions and Special Resolutions then opened for voting – all of which were approved. Outcomes of each are detailed below.
 
Ordinary Resolution 6.1: Directors’ remuneration for financial year 2024–25
Yes = 62.3%
No = 37.7 %
Total members voted: 1943
 
Ordinary Resolution 6.2: President’s remuneration
Yes = 72.7%
No = 27.3%
​Total members voted: 1930
 
Ordinary Resolution 6.3: Financial year 2024 Directors’ allowance – superannuation increase
Yes = 65.6%
No = 34.4%
Total members voted: 1898
 
Special Resolution 7.1: Virtual technology
Yes = 92.5%
No = 7.5%
Total members voted: 1675
 
Special Resolution 7.2: Term of Chair of the Board
Yes = 88.8%
No = 11.2%
Total members voted: 1646
 
Special Resolution 7.3: Director absence from office
Yes = 88.1%
No = 11.9%
Total members voted: 1641
 
Special Resolution 7.4: Executive Committee
Yes = 87.5%
No = 12.5%
Total members voted: 1621
 
Special Resolution 7.5: Execution of documents
Yes = 88.1%
No = 11.9%
Total members voted: 1610
 
Special Resolution 7.6: Indemnity
Yes = 81.6%
No = 18.4%
Total members voted: 1594
 
Dr Roeske told newsGP the results ensure the college can continue advocating for the general practice profession and demonstrates members’ recognition of the work undertaken by Board directors and the President.
 
‘I can say for certain that our President works not 12-hour days, not 18-hour days, but I’d say closer to 20-hour days,’ she said.
 
‘I know she’s often working hard on our behalf on the weekend as well as managing her own practice and a family.
 
‘So I’m really pleased about that outcome because the role is just critical for us at this time.

‘And what we put forward in terms of directors, fees, superannuation, I think the members have seen that they are prudent and appropriate, and we’re very grateful to members for their continued support of us because we’re here to serve them.

‘And that continues to spur us on to do right by the membership and the profession.’
 
The AGM also confirmed members of the 66th RACGP Board:

• Dr Lara Roeske remains as Chair of the Board
• Associate Professor Michael Clements replaces Dr Bruce Willett as Vice President, and remains as Chair of RACGP Rural
• Dr Rebekah Hoffman replaces Professor Charlotte Hespe as NSW&ACT Chair
• Dr Toby Gardner replaces Dr Tim Jackson as Tasmania Chair
• Dr Cathryn Hester replaces Dr Bruce Willett as Queensland Chair
• Dr Rebecca Loveridge replaces Dr Sean Black-Tiong as GPs in Training Chair
• Dr Sam Heard is now fully elected as NT Chair (previously interim Chair)
• Dr Michael Stanford was elected as Chair of the People, Culture, Nominations and Remuneration (PCNR) Committee
• Scott King remains as Chair of the FARM Committee

 
To close the event, Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda, 2022 Rose-Hunt Award winner and past Acting RACGP President and Rural Chair, gave a presentation to members reflecting on his career in general practice and what it means to be a GP.
 
The voting totals listed above are all votes received on the resolutions, including early votes and proxy votes. Members can read the full resolutions and total voting numbers of the 66th AGM on the RACGP website. 

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AGM Annual General Meeting RACGP Board RACGP Constitution remuneration

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