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

What we do regard as good health and hospital reform is putting $64 billion over five years into it—unlike those opposite, who thought the good for the health system was in fact to remove $1 billion from it. Unlike those opposite—it is very disappointing to hear those opposite complain—I welcome the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the contribution it makes to the accountability and performance of hospital systems. It is clear that public hospitals are continuing to experience pressures in relation to elective surgery and emergency department activity. The government is implementing lasting reform to alleviate this pressure on the hospital system.

I think the real issue is we are implementing lasting reform. We have a COAG agreement. We have looked at both health and hospital funding, but we have also said that we would put $64 billion over five years, which is provided through the national health care special purpose payment, which now goes beyond hospitals and covers other areas of the health system, and through the National Partnership Agreement on Hospital and Health Workforce Reform, preventative health and Indigenous health. The National Partnership Agreement on Hospital and Health Workforce Reform provides funding of $2.5 billion, including $154 million for a more nationally consistent system of activity based funding. It also provides $1.1 billion to train more doctors and ensures the training of nurses and other health professionals. There is also $500 million to improve sub-acute care services. In addition, when you look at the achievements within the ACT and break that down—and I know those opposite, particularly the senator for the ACT, would be interested in knowing that—the ACT government has received $10 million— (Time expired)