The latest official figures show funding for public hospitals has shifted from states and territories to the Commonwealth with the Morrison Government’s contribution growing 62 times faster than the states.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, Health Expenditure Australia 2016–17, shows Australian Government funding for public hospitals rose by 6.2 per cent in real terms, or $1.3 billion between 2015–16 and 2016–17.
In contrast, state and territory funding for public hospitals in 2016–17 increased by just 0.1 per cent in real terms, barely matching inflation.
The Australian Government contributed 40.6 per cent of the total cost of public hospitals in 2016–17, up from 39.3 per cent in 2015–16.
At the same time, state and territory governments contributed 51 per cent, down from 52.4 per cent the previous year.
The report shows that Labor cut funding to six states and territories from 2011–12. In contrast funding will more than double under the Coalition from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $28.7 billion in 2024–25.
The report also shows health costs for everyday Australians has decreased for two years running. I am committed to keeping health care costs down for families.
Our new national agreement will deliver more than $30 billion in additional public hospital funding from 2020–21 to 2024–25, taking overall funding during this period to $130.2 billion.
This means more hospital services, more doctors and more nurses, and increased funding every year for every state and territory.
Three Liberal and three Labor states have already signed up to the new agreement. I encourage Victoria and Queensland to join them and stop disadvantaging Queensland and Victorian patients.
