Bishop Threatens Health Funding
Nicola Roxon posted Monday, 8 August 2011
The Opposition has opened the possibility that it would cut the $19.8 Billion extra for public hospitals through National Health Reform.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Julie Bishop, is threatening to withdraw money from the Health Agreement reached between the Commonwealth and all States and Territories, including those governed by Coalition parties.
On ABC News 24 today, Ms Bishop refused to commit to honouring the health agreement.
Q - Do you support that extra money the $175 Billion worth going to the States as part of this deal?
A - Well, you see money is not the answer.
ABC News Breakfast
The Opposition has form on withdrawing health funding. When Mr Abbott was health Minister he ripped $1billion out of hospitals, capped GP training places and left a shortage of 6,000 nurses.
The Opposition has no health policy and its only commitment is to wreck an Agreement that their State colleagues believe is in the best interest of their communities.
The Government’s health reform will deliver proper funding with unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability, less waste and significantly less waiting for patients.
The new emergency department and elective surgery targets are being progressively implemented from 2012. More than 340 projects to improve over 145 public hospitals are being rolled out across Australia.
The Agreement will see the Australian Government invest an extra $19.8 billion in public hospitals through to 2019-20, rising to a total extra $175 billion to 2029-30.
Without this additional money, States and Territories would not be able to support the increase in health costs.
The Government’s health reform will make Australia’s health system sustainable for the future.
This Agreement will deliver practical benefits for patients:
- 2.9 million extra cases in our emergency departments
- 2 million additional in-patient services, such as major surgery or treatment for severe conditions such as kidney failure or a heart attack
- 19 million more outpatient consultations, such as minor surgery, alcohol and drug therapy or physiotherapy.
Ms Bishop needs to say whether the Opposition will fund health reform, and if not what money will she cut and which patients will she disadvantage?
Tags: Health