Page 958 - Week 03 - Thursday, 10 March 2016
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MR HINDER: Chief Minister, have you and other state and territory leaders been working to recoup at least a portion of the health and education funding cut by the federal Liberal government?
MR BARR: Yes, we have been working hard, collectively, across party lines at a state and territory level to develop options and to advocate for the reinstatement of this funding. We need long-term funding solutions for our nation’s health and education systems. Other leaders have told me that they are proceeding with the vocal, bipartisan support of some of their opposition counterparts at a state and territory level, support that we could only dream of in this place, because those opposite have dug in in support of their federal colleagues’ $80 billion cuts.
We tried and we advocated passionately to the former Prime Minister—and we are having another try with Prime Minister Turnbull—to come up with ways to ensure that the rises in health expenditure, which we all know are coming because of an ageing population and because of increased demand, do not completely consume state and territory budgets.
I note the New South Wales Premier’s recent efforts to propose to the commonwealth a model of additional funding for the states which would at least extend the current activity-based funding arrangements for health out until the fiscal year 2019-20. That would buy us some time—a little more time—but it is still not a long-term solution to this challenge. Bandaids and short-term cash injections might be enough to get through the federal election, but they will not be good enough for the community in the long term.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson!
MR BARR: That is why we need movement from the federal government—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MR BARR: and we need an end to the denying, the obfuscating, from those opposite in relation to this issue.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, I warn you.
MR BARR: In relation to this issue, you are on your own. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, why did your government cut 60 hospital beds from the University of Canberra public hospital?
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