среда, 29 февраля 2012 г.

Fed: Victoria remains defiantly opposed to health plan


AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Fed: Victoria remains defiantly opposed to health plan

By Sandra O'Malley, Senior Political Writer

CANBERRA, April 14 AAP - Victorian Premier John Brumby remains defiantly opposed to
Kevin Rudd's health and hospital reform plan, insisting he "cannot and will not" support
the changes.

An increasingly isolated Mr Brumby took his argument to the National Press Club on
Wednesday, suggesting a deal was possible on Monday - but not on Mr Rudd's terms.

"We've got a GST clawback that adds no new money to the system (and) we've got a health
system that's proposed to be run out of Canberra," Mr Brumby said.

"It is for those two fundamental reasons that Victoria cannot and will not support
the commonwealth proposal."

Mr Rudd will formally put his health offer to state and territory leaders at the Council
of Australian Governments (CoAG) on Monday - if he can't get agreement, he has threatened
to take the matter to a referendum.

He wants to take back 30 per cent of GST revenue from the states and, in return, the
commonwealth will take control of majority funding of public hospitals.

Mr Brumby has suggested an alternative 50:50 funding split - without the commonwealth
"stealing" the GST revenue, an initiative that stunned the premier when it was first announced.

"At no time, ever, ever, formally, informally, on the record, off the record, in meetings,
out of meetings, has there ever been any suggestion from the prime minister that they
would steal the GST from the states," he said.

Federal Labor's 2007 health policy states the assumption for Commonwealth funding of
public hospitals would "require a parallel reduction in Commonwealth outlays to the states
at territories".

However, Mr Brumby's office noted that in October 2007, Mr Rudd pledged to leave the
distribution of GST revenues to the independent Commonwealth Grants Commission.

The Victorian premier is the most trenchant critic of the commonwealth plan - his biggest
ally is Western Australia, the only Liberal government across the country.

Other states are inching towards the commonwealth.

Queensland is on board and South Australian Premier Mike Rann doesn't want Victoria
to spoil his state's chance for more money.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity ... for future growth in our hospitals
... we do not want to see it aborted by John Brumby or anybody else," Mr Rann told ABC
Radio.

NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, who met Mr Rudd at length on Tuesday night, urged all
parties to do "everything possible to get to an agreement".

With WA Premier Colin Barnett out of the country, Mr Brumby is a lone voice at the
moment and federal Labor is doing its best to paint him as anti-reform.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon urged Mr Brumby back to the negotiating.

"I think it's time for Mr Brumby to come back to the negotiating table," she said.

However, the Rudd government hasn't extended the invitation for a fortnight.

Mr Rudd hasn't met or spoken to Mr Brumby since March 31.

While Mr Brumby is resisting the current commonwealth plan, he thinks something can
be nutted out on April 19.

"I hope we can get an agreement around Monday but it's not going to be an agreement
around what the prime minister's put up," he said.

"We're going to have to meet, hopefully, somewhere in the middle."

He suggested it may be possible to get agreement "on principles" next week.

"Then it could be possible over the next four to six weeks for further discussions
to get the health policy right," Mr Brumby said.

One issue where Mr Rudd is looking lonesome is the idea of a single funding authority,
which most of the states, as well as doctors, want.

The Australian Medical Association urged CoAG to agree on a single model next Monday.

AAP so/ht

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

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