- Published:
- Monday 19 February 2018
Gippsland hospitals and local patients will be millions of dollars worse off under a plan by Malcolm Turnbull to slash health funding.
Once again, Victorians are being dudded by Malcolm Turnbull, with new analysis confirming plans to short-change Latrobe Regional Hospital to the tune of $41 million, and West Gippsland Healthcare Group to the tune of $14.2 million, as part of a new health funding agenda.
Under the Turnbull Government’s National Health Reform Agreement 2020/21 to 2024/25, the Liberals are still refusing to pay their fair share, capping their contribution at 6.5 per cent growth – which will not meet demand in our hospitals – and refusing to increase the Commonwealth contribution rate to 50 per cent.
The agreement they have put on the table would mean $2.1 billion less for Victorian hospitals over the five years, which across Gippsland would mean:
- 324 fewer doctors
- 772 fewer nurses
- 15,553 fewer elective surgeries
This would hit our hospitals hard, and would leave Gippsland patients waiting longer for vital healthcare.
This is on top of the $104 million that Victoria is already owed by the Federal Liberal Government – which Malcolm Turnbull still refuses to pay – despite independent advice confirming Victoria is entitled to the funding.
This $104 million cut is equal to 100,000 chemotherapy treatments or 650 nurses.
As the fastest growing state in the country, Victoria deserves its fair share. This proves again that Malcolm Turnbull and his Government cannot be trusted on health funding.
And to make matters worse, Matthew Guy refuses to stand up against his mate Malcolm Turnbull when he cuts Victorian hospitals.
You can’t trust the Liberals when it comes to healthcare – all they do is cut.
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Our new analysis shows that every single hospital across our state would stand to miss out – and it’s Victorian patients who will bear the brunt of these costs.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
“We will not stand by while vital funds are cut from our hospitals – they will impact on doctors, nurses and crucial care our local people need.”
“Gippslanders reject this agreement. Malcolm Turnbull needs to step up and stop short-changing our hospitals to prop up his budget bottom line.”