Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been caught breaking another election promise with Health Minister Peter Dutton today confirming $560 million will be cut from hospital funding.
Before the election, Tony Abbott promised no cuts to health and hospitals. However, analysis of budget documents revealed today show the Liberal Government will spend $560 million less on Australia’s public hospitals over the forward estimates compared to what was committed in the Budget by Labor.
Minister Dutton’s confirmation of this half billion cut in today’s papers is another broken promise from Tony Abbott and will hit elective surgeries and emergency department waiting times.
The cuts include a $277m cut to Victorian hospitals; a $200m cut to NSW hospitals; a $100m cut in Queensland and a $27m cut to South Australian hospitals.
Liberal Premiers should be standing up to Tony Abbott about these cuts to hospitals in their states.
The Abbott Government is already planning to increase pressure on hospitals through a GP Tax that will see patients putting off doctor visits and costing every Australian more.
These hospital cuts are just the tip of the iceberg – there are more cuts to come, with the Government refusing to release the Commission of Audit report until after the Western Australian Senate Election.
This is another example of Tony Abbott’s twisted priorities – why is his Government cutting funding to hospitals but happy to give $75,000 to income high earners as part of his unfair and unaffordable Paid Parental Leave Scheme?
The Liberal Government’s priorities are all wrong.