The government Senator who suggested “getting rid of private general practices” in rural areas may have a point — even if her language was offensive — it has been claimed.

Long-serving rural GP Dr Horst Herb says that, while he is no fan of Senator Hollie Hughes, major reforms are needed to address the challenges of private practice in rural and remote Australia.

It comes after the Liberal Senator questioned why rural GPs shouldn’t be pushed into the hospital system.

“Every single person who’s come here, in front of us, at different locations, has been talking about private practice, lack of bulk-billing, how it’s so difficult — burnout, burnout, burnout,” she said during an inquiry into primary care workforce shortages last week.