Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, in 2012 the federal government agreed to a $325 million health funding boost for Tasmania to patch up the health system and put it on a more sustainable footing. But that money runs out next year, so our health services and consumers will be set back badly unless follow-on funding is forthcoming.

Mr Ewen Jones interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Herbert will cease interjecting.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, will you commit to a new funding package, and when do you expect to announce the details?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. I can advise him that the Tasmanian health assistance package was a four-year funding package targeted to ease pressures and equip Tasmania's health system to meet future challenges. The Australian government established the Commission on Delivery of Health Services in Tasmania to provide advice on the key opportunities for structural and system improvement in the honourable member's state. That report was delivered in April last year.

On 28 June this year, the Tasmanian government released its One state, one health system, better outcomes health reform white paper. That white paper outlined Tasmania's health reform agenda in order to achieve high-quality, safe and efficient services for the Tasmanian community into the future.

My government continues to support Tasmania through a range of health initiatives. We have recently announced an additional $148.5 million for the Mersey hospital operations over the next two years and an additional $20.7 million for acute and subacute projects, giving certainty to Tasmania while it works through the reform of the health system. This is in addition to the public hospital funding. In 2015-16, the federal government will provide an estimated $16.4 billion to the states and territories to fund public hospitals. This is an estimated increase in funding of 6.3 per cent compared to 2014-15. Of that, Tasmania will receive an estimated $348.5 million in 2015-16.

I thank the honourable member for his question. The commitment of the coalition members from Tasmania has been absolutely relentless in ensuring that there is adequate funding for Tasmanian public health services, and we will continue to work closely with the Hodgman government to deliver just that.