Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Of course, the new funding agreement will be implemented from 1 July 2009. The new agreement will be very different from the current set of agreements as not only will it refer to base funding in indexation but it will also focus on prevention. In respect of the specific matter that was raised by Senator Nash in relation to Dubbo hospital, I do agree. I find it extraordinary and simply unacceptable that the hospital cannot pay its bills, forcing staff to buy supplies from their own pocket. The New South Wales government must act immediately to ensure that staff have all the supplies they need to care for their patients.