QUEENSLAND PREMIER WELCOMES RUDD’S VISIONARY HEALTH PLAN.
Published Thursday, 23 August, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today welcomed Federal Labor’s health plan ‘New Directions for Australian Health’ saying it would be one of the most significant reforms of our health and hospital systems since Federation.
“This is a visionary plan from the Federal Labor leader which will deliver better services and health care for Queenslanders,” Mr Beattie said.
“Kevin Rudd’s $2 Billion plan is not just about improving federal funding to our public hospital system, it’s about reforming the health system to make it more efficient.
“Federal Labor’s announcement today that the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission will address the problem of duplication is a welcome one,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson and I have been asking the Howard Government to do something about the duplications within the system, to no avail,” Mr Beattie.
The Premier said the Queensland Government was spending an additional $10 billion to improve our health system.
“At the same time the Howard Government has short-changed Queensland public hospitals by $2.6 billion over the life of the current five-year Australian health Care Agreement,” Mr Beattie said.
“John Howard has refused to meet his responsibilities on a national scale, preferring to target hospitals in marginal seats.
“Worse still his government has refused to even discuss system-wide reform until after the election.
“The people of Queensland are being treated with contempt by the Howard Government.
“I think the Opposition Leader’s announcement that if he is elected to Government he would seek to take financial control of public hospitals - if the states and territories fail to sign up to reform - is a strong plan.
“I have no doubt the states and territories will work with a Federal Labor Government to reach agreement on this plan.
“I urge all Australians to support Kevin Rudd’s plan,” the Premier said.
Thursday August 23, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
“This is a visionary plan from the Federal Labor leader which will deliver better services and health care for Queenslanders,” Mr Beattie said.
“Kevin Rudd’s $2 Billion plan is not just about improving federal funding to our public hospital system, it’s about reforming the health system to make it more efficient.
“Federal Labor’s announcement today that the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission will address the problem of duplication is a welcome one,” Mr Beattie said.
“The Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson and I have been asking the Howard Government to do something about the duplications within the system, to no avail,” Mr Beattie.
The Premier said the Queensland Government was spending an additional $10 billion to improve our health system.
“At the same time the Howard Government has short-changed Queensland public hospitals by $2.6 billion over the life of the current five-year Australian health Care Agreement,” Mr Beattie said.
“John Howard has refused to meet his responsibilities on a national scale, preferring to target hospitals in marginal seats.
“Worse still his government has refused to even discuss system-wide reform until after the election.
“The people of Queensland are being treated with contempt by the Howard Government.
“I think the Opposition Leader’s announcement that if he is elected to Government he would seek to take financial control of public hospitals - if the states and territories fail to sign up to reform - is a strong plan.
“I have no doubt the states and territories will work with a Federal Labor Government to reach agreement on this plan.
“I urge all Australians to support Kevin Rudd’s plan,” the Premier said.
Thursday August 23, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500