Morrison government budget delivers massive cut to health funding

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services The Honourable Yvette D'Ath

The Morrison government’s latest federal budget has locked in massive funding cuts for Queensland’s public hospitals.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the LNP’s Federal Budget failed to deliver Queensland its fair share of funding.

“If the budget delivered by Josh Frydenberg last night is remembered at all, it will be for the way that it failed Queensland,” the Minister said.

“And nowhere is that failure more evident than in its failure to support our health system. “The Morrison Government failed Queenslanders yet again last night with its refusal to increase financial support of our public hospitals. “Not only did Scott Morrison’s ignore our appeal for a 50-50 health funding split, he will cut $21 million from our hospitals next financial year.

“The federal coalition is also cutting $176 million from Queensland hospitals in 2023‑24 and 2024‑25, compared to funding promised just four months ago.

“All the States and Territories, along with the Australian Medical Association, are calling for more Commonwealth funding for public hospitals, but the PM is ignoring these calls.

“Last night’s budget doesn’t have a single cent to fund aged and disability care packages for the more than 500 Queenslanders living in public hospital beds.

“There’s no money in the budget to reverse the Morrison government’s 30 per cent cut to the National Partnership Agreement on Public Dental Services. “The Palaszczuk Government is investing a record $22.2 billion in health but the Morrison government has slammed health funding for Queensland public hospitals into reverse.

“The Queensland LNP is damned by its silence and their refusal to call for more health funding from the Commonwealth.

“The State Opposition is siding with Canberra against Queensland.”

/Public Release. View in full here.