Labor Milks Funds from QLD Health

Published Tuesday, 16 October, 2012 at 11:34 AM

Minister for Health
The Honourable Lawrence Springborg

The Queensland-based Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has been accused of trying to milk $40million from the Queensland health system to fill holes in his struggling Commonwealth budget.

 Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says the unexpected cuts to Commonwealth payments were revealed in projections of budget outcomes. He says any reduction will take resources from hospital and health services, already burdened with the unfunded cost of the bungled Labor payroll contract.

 “We have seen that a $150m Labor black hole is the equivalent of 1500 jobs in regional health services across the state,” Mr Springborg said. “Another Labor black hole, worth $40m, will create further pressure. The Federal Treasurer has set his sights on the health system in his home state and needs to correct his aim quickly.”

 Mr Springborg said news of the campaign to correct the Commonwealth budget through cuts to state health came as the Queensland Government increased health spending. “The first budget of the Newman Government provided $11.8bn for Queensland Health,” he said. “That is a 7.4 per cent increase and an extra $800m in cash.

 “Our allocation is a record amount that provides increases for every Hospital and Health Board in the state,” he said. “Now the Commonwealth is trying to milk those payments to offset its own financial incompetence.”

 Mr Springborg challenged the failed former PM, Kevin Rudd, to recant recent attacks on Queensland Health and redirect his criticism at the real source of the problem, his federal colleague, Mr Swan.

 Expressed in terms of surgical procedures, a $40m cut would have the following impact:

 Knee replacement -    1,795   or

  • Hip replacement -       1,822   or
  • Cochlear implant -      936      or
  • Tonsillectomy -          13,270 or
  • Appendectomy -         6,091   or
  • Vaginal delivery -       9,947.

Ends

Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230