❓ Premier Gallop criticises the Prime Minister's refusal to prioritise health on the COAG agenda, accusing the Commonwealth of reducing health funding and making misleading claims about contributions to public hospitals. He calls for WA parliamentary support to advocate for fair health funding.
AnsweredQoN 1003Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the State Government’s attempt to place the issue of health on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and ask whether the Prime Minister has responded to this call? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
I can advise the House that I received a letter from the Prime Minister last night outlining his opposition to placing the health issue on the agenda of COAG. It is interesting to read the conclusion of the letter from the Prime Minister. He writes - Bearing these things in mind, - I will come back to “these things” in a minute - I do not consider it appropriate for health funding to be included on the COAG agenda for 29 August 2003. It is, of course, open to premiers or chief ministers to raise health policy matters under ‘Other Business’. That is where the Prime Minister of this country places health on his agenda - other business. I know that I speak on behalf of the people of Western Australia when I say this: health should be the number one item on the COAG agenda. In his letter the Prime Minister continues to make some outrageous statements and indeed some false claims about the nature of the Commonwealth’s offer to the States. He claims that health ministers are not interested in reform, when we all know that the States and Territories have been working with a very representative group of health practitioners and health interest groups to look at the reform process. The health system has some structural problems that need to be dealt with. This Government is committed to looking into those matters and progressing them. The Prime Minister claims the new agreement is contributing more funding, when we know that he has taken $1 billion out of the funding arrangements that were in place. Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I can advise the House that I received a letter from the Prime Minister last night outlining his opposition to placing the health issue on the agenda of COAG. It is interesting to read the conclusion of the letter from the Prime Minister. He writes - Bearing these things in mind, - I will come back to “these things” in a minute - I do not consider it appropriate for health funding to be included on the COAG agenda for 29 August 2003. It is, of course, open to premiers or chief ministers to raise health policy matters under ‘Other Business’. That is where the Prime Minister of this country places health on his agenda - other business. I know that I speak on behalf of the people of Western Australia when I say this: health should be the number one item on the COAG agenda. In his letter the Prime Minister continues to make some outrageous statements and indeed some false claims about the nature of the Commonwealth’s offer to the States. He claims that health ministers are not interested in reform, when we all know that the States and Territories have been working with a very representative group of health practitioners and health interest groups to look at the reform process. The health system has some structural problems that need to be dealt with. This Government is committed to looking into those matters and progressing them. The Prime Minister claims the new agreement is contributing more funding, when we know that he has taken $1 billion out of the funding arrangements that were in place. Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
I can advise the House that I received a letter from the Prime Minister last night outlining his opposition to placing the health issue on the agenda of COAG. It is interesting to read the conclusion of the letter from the Prime Minister. He writes - Bearing these things in mind, - I will come back to “these things” in a minute - I do not consider it appropriate for health funding to be included on the COAG agenda for 29 August 2003. It is, of course, open to premiers or chief ministers to raise health policy matters under ‘Other Business’. That is where the Prime Minister of this country places health on his agenda - other business. I know that I speak on behalf of the people of Western Australia when I say this: health should be the number one item on the COAG agenda. In his letter the Prime Minister continues to make some outrageous statements and indeed some false claims about the nature of the Commonwealth’s offer to the States. He claims that health ministers are not interested in reform, when we all know that the States and Territories have been working with a very representative group of health practitioners and health interest groups to look at the reform process. The health system has some structural problems that need to be dealt with. This Government is committed to looking into those matters and progressing them. The Prime Minister claims the new agreement is contributing more funding, when we know that he has taken $1 billion out of the funding arrangements that were in place. Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: I can advise the House that I received a letter from the Prime Minister last night outlining his opposition to placing the health issue on the agenda of COAG. It is interesting to read the conclusion of the letter from the Prime Minister. He writes - Bearing these things in mind, - I will come back to “these things” in a minute - I do not consider it appropriate for health funding to be included on the COAG agenda for 29 August 2003. It is, of course, open to premiers or chief ministers to raise health policy matters under ‘Other Business’. That is where the Prime Minister of this country places health on his agenda - other business. I know that I speak on behalf of the people of Western Australia when I say this: health should be the number one item on the COAG agenda. In his letter the Prime Minister continues to make some outrageous statements and indeed some false claims about the nature of the Commonwealth’s offer to the States. He claims that health ministers are not interested in reform, when we all know that the States and Territories have been working with a very representative group of health practitioners and health interest groups to look at the reform process. The health system has some structural problems that need to be dealt with. This Government is committed to looking into those matters and progressing them. The Prime Minister claims the new agreement is contributing more funding, when we know that he has taken $1 billion out of the funding arrangements that were in place. Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
I can advise the House that I received a letter from the Prime Minister last night outlining his opposition to placing the health issue on the agenda of COAG. It is interesting to read the conclusion of the letter from the Prime Minister. He writes - Bearing these things in mind, - I will come back to “these things” in a minute - I do not consider it appropriate for health funding to be included on the COAG agenda for 29 August 2003. It is, of course, open to premiers or chief ministers to raise health policy matters under ‘Other Business’. That is where the Prime Minister of this country places health on his agenda - other business. I know that I speak on behalf of the people of Western Australia when I say this: health should be the number one item on the COAG agenda. In his letter the Prime Minister continues to make some outrageous statements and indeed some false claims about the nature of the Commonwealth’s offer to the States. He claims that health ministers are not interested in reform, when we all know that the States and Territories have been working with a very representative group of health practitioners and health interest groups to look at the reform process. The health system has some structural problems that need to be dealt with. This Government is committed to looking into those matters and progressing them. The Prime Minister claims the new agreement is contributing more funding, when we know that he has taken $1 billion out of the funding arrangements that were in place. Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Mr M.F. Board: That is misleading, Premier. Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: No, it is in the federal budget papers. The shadow Minister for Health is supporting the Prime Minister in his efforts to rip off the people of Western Australia. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: In his advertisement the Prime Minister continues to claim that the Commonwealth is contributing a bigger share to our public hospitals. His advertisement of 21 August claims that between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the state and territory share of total public hospital funding fell from 47.2 per cent while the commonwealth share increased at the same time. I have had figures produced within Western Australia by government agencies here and checked off by the auditing process. Do members know what they show? The Commonwealth’s share of public hospital funding fell from 35 per cent to 34 per cent over the past five years, while the State’s share increased from 56 per cent to 59 per cent. Therefore, the people of Western Australia, through the State Government, are increasing their contribution, and the Commonwealth Government is decreasing its contribution, to our public hospital system. I call on every member of this Parliament to support the Government of Western Australia in its efforts to, first, make health the number one item on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda and, second, to get a fair deal for the people of Western Australia. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
The SPEAKER: Order, Leader of the Opposition! Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: The Commonwealth Government is out of touch. I acknowledge that some federal ministers are a little distracted. We know one minister is distracted by the police operation on roads in South Australia, and other federal ministers from Western Australia appear to have no interest in this State or what is needed to ensure WA gets a fair deal. I say to commonwealth ministers from Western Australia, and the WA Liberal members of the national Parliament, that if they think health is just “other business”, wait to see what will happen during the next federal election campaign.
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