Victorian hospitals and patients will be billions of dollars worse off under a plan by Malcolm Turnbull to slash health funding.
Once again, Victorians are being dudded by Malcolm Turnbull, with documents released this week confirming plans to short-change Victorian hospitals to the tune of $2.1 billion as part of a new funding agreement.
Under the proposed Heads of Agreement for the National Health Reform Agreement 2020/21 to 2024/25 put forward by the Federal Liberal Government, there will be a cap to the growth for hospitals of 6.5 per cent which does not meet demand in Victorian hospitals, and no increase of the Commonwealth contribution rate to 50 per cent.
This means $2.1 billion less for Victorian hospitals over the five years, which is the equivalent of:
- 6,954 fewer doctors
- 16,586 fewer nurses
- 333,990 fewer elective surgeries
This will hit our hospitals hard, and will leave Victorians waiting longer for vital healthcare.
This is on top of the $104 million that Victoria is already owed by the Federal Liberal Government – but that Malcolm Turnbull is refusing 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 is yet another example 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's cuts to Victorian hospitals.
You can’t trust the Liberals when it comes to healthcare – all they do is cut.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Time and time again Malcolm Turnbull has put Victorian patients, doctors and nurses last.”
“The Federal Liberal Government have already ripped billions of dollars away from our hospitals, and now they want to take another $2.1 billion.”
“Instead of playing politics from his waterside mansion in Sydney – Malcolm Turnbull needs to speak to the Victorian patients who will bear the brunt of these health cuts.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020