HOWARD GOVT’S HEALTH FUND ANOTHER PRE-ELECTION STUNT

The Howard Government should be committing towards a fairer health funding agreement with the States instead of cheap pre-election stunts, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said Treasurer Peter Costello’s announcement of a Health and Medical Investment Fund followed 11 years of not funding any health infrastructure.

“A closer look at Mr Costello’s new fund reveals that Queensland should not be holding its breath for any great windfall from the fund when it does become available,” Mr Robertson said.

“According to the Australian Financial Review, the interest earned off that $2.5 billion, in a good year, could potentially reach $250 million.

“One could reasonably expect Queensland only receiving a fifth of that amount one day - $50 million if we’re lucky.

“That’s a drop in the ocean to how much the Beattie Government is investing in our health system.

“This year alone, we’re spending $635 million on health infrastructure.

“We have 2,350 buildings and over 60,000 pieces of health technology equipment.

“We are building three new tertiary hospitals worth around $3 billion.

“Every day in Queensland Health, over $1 million is spent on rebuilding and maintaining health facilities.“

Mr Robertson said money spent on new equipment and technology does not provide one single doctor, nurse or allied health professional.

“When you purchase new equipment or build infrastructure you need skilled staff to run them,” he said.

“Not one cent of the dividends from this fund will deliver that.

“That is why the Howard Government needs to face up to its existing responsibilities.

“The number one priority for Mr Howard on health is to get serious about providing the funds to adequately run our public hospitals and that starts with the Australian Health Care Agreement.

“We would have preferred the Commonwealth use its monster surplus to restore the 50-50 funding arrangement between Canberra and the States.

“Mr Howard has short-changed Queensland public hospitals by $2.6 billion over the life of the current five-year agreement which expires in 2008.

“If Mr Howard was finally serious about health he could write our hospitals a cheque for $2.6 billion today.

“What we don’t need is ill-planned health promises made in the heat of the current pre-election atmosphere.

“We call on the Howard Government to work in partnership with the states so that the dividends from this investment are not wasted on service duplication or cheap vote buying stunts.”

22 August,  2007
MEDIA: Joshua Cooney 3234 1185