Mr Board questions the Minister for Health about a potential $25 million cut to rural health services to fund metropolitan health initiatives, citing a Department of Health briefing. The Minister dismisses the claim as speculation, stating the budget will be reconfigured to prioritize patient care and front-line services.

AnsweredQoN 310Legislative Assembly
Asked
29 August 2001
Member
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

The Minister for Health, in Labor’s better regional health policy, pledged more support for regional hospitals and health services. Can the minister confirm that at a recent budget briefing for rural health services, the Department of Health advised that $25 million would be slashed from rural health services in Western Australia to pay for some of Labor’s metropolitan health promises? Mr KUCERA

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for Murdoch for his question, but he obviously did not listen to the answer I gave yesterday about the press release by the federal member from the south west, Geoff Prosser. Any speculation on the budget is merely that - speculation. The health budget will not be cut, but it will be reconfigured to place emphasis on patient care and to put services where they should be - in front-line health services. It is interesting to note that the National Party raised a similar issue this morning with the same kind of scaremongering. This House follows a protocol on the budget. Anything said before September 13 is mere speculation.
Can the minister confirm that at a recent budget briefing for rural health services, the Department of Health advised that $25 million would be slashed from rural health services in Western Australia to pay for some of Labor’s metropolitan health promises? Mr KUCERA replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for his question, but he obviously did not listen to the answer I gave yesterday about the press release by the federal member from the south west, Geoff Prosser. Any speculation on the budget is merely that - speculation. The health budget will not be cut, but it will be reconfigured to place emphasis on patient care and to put services where they should be - in front-line health services. It is interesting to note that the National Party raised a similar issue this morning with the same kind of scaremongering. This House follows a protocol on the budget. Anything said before September 13 is mere speculation.
Mr KUCERA replied: I thank the member for Murdoch for his question, but he obviously did not listen to the answer I gave yesterday about the press release by the federal member from the south west, Geoff Prosser. Any speculation on the budget is merely that - speculation. The health budget will not be cut, but it will be reconfigured to place emphasis on patient care and to put services where they should be - in front-line health services. It is interesting to note that the National Party raised a similar issue this morning with the same kind of scaremongering. This House follows a protocol on the budget. Anything said before September 13 is mere speculation.
I thank the member for Murdoch for his question, but he obviously did not listen to the answer I gave yesterday about the press release by the federal member from the south west, Geoff Prosser. Any speculation on the budget is merely that - speculation. The health budget will not be cut, but it will be reconfigured to place emphasis on patient care and to put services where they should be - in front-line health services. It is interesting to note that the National Party raised a similar issue this morning with the same kind of scaremongering. This House follows a protocol on the budget. Anything said before September 13 is mere speculation.

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