Apr 20 2010
By Candy Lashkari
With the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in talks with the state and territory leaders in Canberra at Parliament House the country waits to see the result of the discussions on the health reforms. The Premiers of Western Australia, Colin Barnett and Victoria, John Brumby, have both been fighting against the federal government’s desire to take away their GST money. At the same time the New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally has been asking for a sustainable health system plan that does not affect the tax payers.
While Mr Brumby has expressed gratefulness for the significant amount of money that Mr Rudd has offered the states, he wants more money for hospital beds in Victoria. Mr Rudd has offered states $1.2 billion over the next four years to fund elective surgery, emergency departments and sub-acute beds to help ease pressure on public hospitals.
“Everybody’s got to give a bit of ground. That’s the way you get results. And we’ve given a bit, I hope the Prime Minister can give a bit an if we can walk out of here this afternoon with an agreement it’s the patients of Australia that will be better off.” said Mr. Barnett.
There is a hope of a compromise with both Mr. Brumby and Mr. Barnett taking a proposal of a common funding pool to the COAG meeting with the Prime Minister. What is essentially being proposed is the states will pay the one third of the GST income into a funding pool for hospitals, but it is not controlled by the Commonwealth.
"The beauty of the pool arrangement that we're proposing today is money in, money out, all subject to both state and Commonwealth auditor-generals, so every dollar that comes in for health is spent on health," said Mr Brumby.
It is yet to be seen if Mr Rudd will agree to it. With private meetings being conducted between Mr Rudd and Mr Brumby before and after the dinner hosted by the Prime Minister for all the state and territory leaders, experts are hoping for a resolution of the current standoff.
The Treasurer Wayne Swan, the Federal Treasurer has been meeting up with the state treasurers. “Well, state treasurers and state premiers have been talking to prime ministers and federal treasurers for years about the need for fundamental reform. Fundamental reform must occur so the system is financially sustainable, so that it is cost efficient, so that we end the waste and duplication and deliver the quality outcomes that Australians are crying out for.” said Mr Wayne Swan.