title: Emerging inequality and potential unconstitutionality - the case for reform of the intern priority system.
abstract: Internship selection is becoming more competitive due to substantial increases in numbers of medical graduates. Australian states operate a "priority system" for medical internship selection which discriminates against Australian interstate applicants. This discrimination arguably infringes section 117 of the Australian Constitution, which seeks to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and promotes national unity. The priority system should be reformed. It is inequitable and inconsistent with other aspects of medical training and regulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. dev.kevat@monash.edu
authors.forename: Dev A S
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kevat
authors.forename: Fiona J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lander
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003249:Constitution and Bylaws; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors