Desperation drives false Labor claims about Qld Health

Published Friday, 06 September, 2013 at 11:57 AM

Minister for Health
The Honourable Lawrence Springborg

Federal Labor’s desperation and its fear of losing power have become clearer, with discredited lies about Queensland Government funding for health surfacing again on the eve of the Federal Election.

Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg said it’s not just Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who’s deceiving the Australian people.

“The latest offender to make false claims about cuts in funding for Queensland Health is the Rudd Government’s Finance Minister Penny Wong,” Mr Springborg.

“Under the Newman Government, hospitals across the State are sharing a record $12.326 billion health operating budget for 2013-‘14.”

“That’s $532.7 million or 4.5% up on estimated actual expenditure for 2012-’13 alone and an increase of more than $1 billion or 11.6% since the Government was elected.

“In the same period, Ms Wong’s Labor Government slashed $103 million from health allocations to Queensland in a retrospective grab for cash, some of it allocated and already spent up to 18 months earlier.”  

The Health Minister said about 84 per cent of Queensland’s total health operating budget ($10.319 billion) is allocated to purchase public healthcare services from 17 Hospital and Health Services and other organisations (including Mater Health Services) this financial year.

“This builds on our commitment to local communities that they will have a say on how health funds are spent in their region,” he said.

Key highlights of the 2013-14 health budget include:
• An extra $147 million over four years to address a maintenance backlog at Queensland health facilities inherited from the former Labor Government
• $51.9 million over four years to provide for the revitalisation of services for Queenslanders in regional, rural and remote communities
• $30.9 million over four years to establish a Rural Telehealth Service
• $7.8 million to provide cochlear implants to patients with moderate to profound hearing loss
• $28.3 million over four years for extra Hospital in the Home services

[ENDS] 6 September 2013

Media contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230