Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 16 January 2012:

(1) How were grant funding allocations for Medicare Locals determined.

(2) What is the total amount of funding allocated to the Australian Capital Territory under

the grants program.

(3) Did the Member for Canberra discuss these grants for the Canberra electorate with the Minister.

(4) Did the Member for Fraser discuss these grants for the Fraser electorate with the Minister

(5) Did Senator Lundy discuss these grants for the Australian Capital Territory with the Minister.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Health has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) A total of $493 million (GST Exclusive) has been allocated over four years, from 2010-11 to 2013-14, to establish and operate Medicare Locals.

To accommodate for relative differences in the characteristics of each Medicare Local catchment and population, core funding has been allocated on a weighted population approach that takes into account:

(2) In 2011-12, the total amount of core funding allocated to the ACT Medicare Local is

$2.27 million (GST exclusive). A further $1.95 million (GST exclusive) is also allocated to the ACT Medicare Local in 2011-12 for programs run through the Medicare Local, including, but not limited to the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS), After Hours, Closing the Gap and Practice Incentives Programs.

(3) (4) (5) The Minister for Health has not discussed the funding allocation for the ACT Medicare Local with the Member for Canberra, Member for Fraser or Senator Lundy. The Minister for Health is advised that the former Minister for Health and Ageing has not discussed the funding allocation with the Member for Canberra, Member for Fraser or Senator Lundy.