Tuesday 1 November 2018
Hansard of the Legislative Council

Hospitals and Health Services - Federal Funding

Mr FINCH question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

[3.03 p.m.]
Given the federal government's intention to clawback $600 million allocated to hospitals and the health services over the past financial year, how is the state Government going to counter the funding reduction in the situation where health funding is already under pressure?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for Rosevears for his question. 

I am advised the Tasmanian Government has supported other states and territories in lobbying the federal government on not adjusting funding retrospectively, including at the recent Council of Australian Government's health ministers meeting.  We have seen annual federal funding for Tasmanian public hospitals increase significantly over recent years, with the last federal budget showing funding in 2018-19 was more than $100 million above that included in the 2013-14 federal budget, an increase of 35 per cent. 

We will continue to work constructively with the Commonwealth Government to improve Tasmania's health system.  I can assure members the Government will always fight for our fair share of funding for our public hospitals.