Labor welcomes Health Minister Sussan Ley’s long overdue admission the Abbott Government ripped over $60 billion from health funding, but is deeply concerned at her confirmation further undisclosed health cuts are being prepared.
In the 2013 election, the Abbott Government committed to maintaining Labor’s funding guarantee for public hospitals.
“A Coalition government will support the transition to the Commonwealth providing 50 per cent growth funding of the efficient price of hospital services.”
The Coalition’s Policy to Support Australia’s Health System
But in answer to questions from Labor in Budget consideration in detail, Minister Ley today confirmed that promise had been broken.
"So what we did when we came to government was take away those guarantees.”
Sussan Ley, Budget Consideration in Detail, 22 June 2015
While confirmation of the hospital cuts is welcome and long overdue, Labor is deeply concerned at the ongoing uncertainty created by the further $1.3 billion in health cuts being planned to replace the $5 hike in prescription charges stalled in the Parliament.
Minister Ley today confirmed she is planning additional health cuts to offset the $1.3 billion cost of the PBS hike.
“Where one measure comes off the table another goes on.”
Sussan Ley, Budget Consideration in Detail, 22 June 2015
But when asked whether these cuts would include further attacks on hospitals, preventative health, dental programs or health flexible funds, the minister would only say the cuts would be the result of a “very productive consultation”.
Today’s answer from the minister confirms that not content with having cut $60 billion from health last year, and another $2 billion this year, the Abbott Government is now about to raid the Health Budget for a further $1.3 billion.
The Minister must immediately come clean on what further health cuts she now has in her sights. More cuts to hospitals? More cuts to general practice? More cuts to drug and alcohol programs?
This yet again highlights that Tony Abbott only ever sees health as a target for Budget cuts and only Labor can be trusted to look after Australia’s health system.