Rudd’s hospital plan in a critical condition

marley says:

08:55am | 21/02/13

Baillieue is part of the sisterhood?  Who knew?

I think the point is that this idea was Rudd’s, and he has to carry at least some of the responsibility for its failure, as do Gillard, Plibersek and the “world’s greatest treasurer,”  along with recalcitrant state premiers.  It is a shining example of failed cooperation between the levels of government.  And that reaches a lot further than simply blaming the “sisterhood.”

Chillin says:

09:26am | 21/02/13

Not sure I mentioned Baillieue? 

The author cites Rudd’s grand plan.  Rudd is not the PM.  Rudd is not the Minister for Health.  Rudd has no control over the implementation of the ‘grand plan’.  Those that do, from the Federal perspective…are female.

How do you carry responsibility for failure if you have been allowed anywhere near your plan for two and a half years?

Christian Real says:

09:30am | 21/02/13

Sergeagent Shultz
If you, like others had read the full story then in the 2nd last paragraph of this news story reads:
“The extra funding that would be delivered by the Federal Government to States and Territories will be delivered direct to Hospitals and other Health services.”
Sargeant shultz:
The money/Funds will be given diectly to the Hospitals and Health services, what part are you incapable of understanding?.

John A says:

09:36am | 21/02/13

Surely this highlights the fact that a ship cannot have two captains.
Health should either be s state or federal responsibility. I’d plump for state, we could all then see the results and compare them.
The current federal funds could be apportioned based on case numbers, waiting times and results.

marley says:

09:43am | 21/02/13

@Chillin - the author mentioned Baillieu. 

No, Rudd doesn’t have responsibility for the implementation, but he does have to have some responsibility for introducing a flawed system in the first place. 

Critics of mandatory detention tend to go after Howard and Gillard, yet surely, if you think its wrong, some of the blame has to go to Keating, who introduced it, even though he has been out of government far longer.

That doesn’t excuse Howard and Gillard, or Gillard and Plibersek, but it doesn’t totally exempt either Keating or Rudd either.

And surely some of the failure for the hospital policy has to be attributable to Swan as well?  There’s simply no money left to hold up the federal end of the deal. 

What I’m saying here is that it’s not just the sisterhood that should carry the can on this one; it’s the system itself.

Chillin says:

10:03am | 21/02/13

@marley

I was commenting on the Federal part in the initial statement.  Perhaps you would like me to address statements and submit them to you for approval first?  You know, where you tell me what I am allowed to address?

More chance of it being a success if you are involved in the project.  Rudd may very well have resolved the issue had he been afforded a say, a stakehold.

Less, if not no, responsibility if you have zero control over it.

dovif says:

10:05am | 21/02/13

Rudd: I would like to stop the blame game, can you all go and blame the states

So the fed government keep cutting funding to health, because the ALP stuffed up the budget, what is new?

james says:

10:38am | 21/02/13

@Dovif how did they stuff up the budget?

Why did revenues fall for 2 years in a row from 2008?
Why do you talk crap every day?

jb says:

10:53am | 21/02/13

I was thinking the exact thing as I was reading the opinion piece, I was hard pressed to work out any relevance whatsoever to the times, then reading your comment Chiilin I realised, mmm you are right this is just another plant to make rudd the sock puppet, look like, well a sock puppet.

marley says:

11:27am | 21/02/13

@chillin - I’m not trying to tell you what to comment on, perish the thought.

I’m just saying that the blame spreads a lot further than the sisterhood, to the budgetary failures of both federal and state governments, and to the inability of the feds and the locals to work together to find solutions.  Of course Gillard and Pilbersek are responsible, but so are a lot of other people, and you’re letting those others off too lightly.

dovif says:

12:02pm | 21/02/13

James

We are in 2013, not 2008, please stop talking crap. Expenses from the governent has risen almost 50% and revenue only 20%

That is how you stuff up the budget

Chillin says:

01:42pm | 21/02/13

@marley

Well then I guess Adam and Eve are also accountable for this mess*.

(*I haven’t used the theory of evolution as I have yet to see intelligent argument of where man evolved from)

PJ says:

02:02pm | 21/02/13

Here’s whats been happening.

We’ve got kids in pain and adults needing life renewing operations.

Expensive consultants had told Gillard she can:
- re-claim promised hospital monies to deliver the promised Surplus
- and squeeze out some votes by humiliating the Coalition States at the same time.

If she withdraws the Medical funding promised at the beginning of the year.

In summary we have sick Australians facing ward closures and long waiting lists for operations, as Gillard plays politics with the funding.

One of her $126 million a year focus groups tells Julia that people in Victoria are beginning to twig its Gillard not Ballieu thats responsible, so half way through the year the promised monies, $107 million, are given back to Victoria only.

Its a vile and disgusting state of affairs, that we should witness a Federal Government wage war with the States using the withdrawal of promised Hospital Funding, which very sick Australians were depending upon.

Gillard out.

james says:

02:09pm | 21/02/13

@Dovif

So that fact that government revenues dropped by 10 billion over 2 years, during the same time as the GFC has no effect on anything?

And revenues are not 20% higher, that number only works if you includes Costellos last budget.

Please try harder.

JOHN GILBERT says:

03:06pm | 21/02/13

WHY DONT YOU LIBERALS PUT A SOCK IN IT JUST LOOK WHATS HAPPENING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD ESPECIALLY QLD   jack

PS   YOU WERE ALL SO PERFECT YOU LOST THE 2007 ELECTION

Christian Real says:

04:46pm | 21/02/13

PJ
cut the crap and the lies sunshine the Federal government is not cutting the funding as you continue to insinuate, you are a liar that Abbott would be proud off.
The federal Funding will be delivered direct to hospitals and other service providers bypassing the State government.
I guess that the federal Government cannot trust Newman with the funds.
PJ, The only one that should be out - out of this Country is an imbecile like you.

PJ says:

04:53pm | 21/02/13

Oh dear, looks like Gillard has extended the suffering unnecessarily for Victoria’s sick:

“The damage has already been done. It is going to take some time for the hospitals who receive this money now to reverse the changes they have put in place,’’ Mr Baillieu told 3AW.

“You don’t do this sort of thing in the middle of the year.

“They (hospitals) have to rehire staff, they have got to reschedule patients, they have got to reschedule operating theatres - it is going to be very difficult, it is going to take some time, the damage is already done and then on July 1 these cuts resume.’
- Report from the Herald Sun

Well done The Gillard Government

Mouse says:

05:22pm | 21/02/13

No need to shout JohnGilbert, we aren’t deaf!  :o)

james says:

09:02am | 21/02/13

Cambell newman hasnt cut a cent though right?

Reader says:

09:06am | 21/02/13

If this is even true presumably it’s now OK to breach the APS code of conduct to make an anti Gillard rant!?

Christian Real says:

09:34am | 21/02/13

Reader
The story was in the Courier Mail this morning and written in a misleading way, that would appear that they have breached their code of ethics to stir up and inflame their readers.

Mr Sam says:

11:34am | 21/02/13

CR, it is only misleading by your standards, the majority of us call it Gillard’s failure! Didn’t she already reform healthcare or was that all a lie?

Sergeant Schultz says:

11:49am | 21/02/13

Christian Real…ah !  but Christian….it is not a matter of ” will be delivered direct to hospitals and other health services “....Gillard made it a threat in her letter to Premier Newman ” if elective surgery lists are nor reduced by Queensland health , the federal government will direct funds directly to Queensland hospitals.” Now Christian , that is entirely differrent from your version of what is in the C.M.  It seems it is you who is incapable of understanding the printed article .

Tedd says:

12:12pm | 21/02/13

this is worth reading -

http://media.mytalk.com.au/3aw/audio/210213_baillieuletter.pdf

and this is worth watching -

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-21/cut-out-the-politics-on-health-gillard/4532178

PJ says:

02:09pm | 21/02/13

Gillard withheld $107 million in promised Hospital Funding from Victoria.

But the State Government managed to demonstrate effectively on the Governments ABC radio, that Gillard was playing politics. Great job.

Hence Gillard did a back flip on the money.

It should be noted, the monies as yet have not arrived in Victoria.

Gillard has only said she will back down on the issue because she faces the awkward fact that her actions have created a waiting list of sick kids waiting for a vital operation.

I repeat. Gillard playing politics with promised Hospital Funding has prolonged the suffering of sick Australian kids.

Christian Real says:

04:48pm | 21/02/13

Mr Sam
It was misleading, but then if you have a diasabillity to read the full story then perhaps you should go back and learn how to read properly

Christian Real says:

04:51pm | 21/02/13

sargeant shultz
You appear to be talking out of your bum again,but then again Liberals misconstrue the truth to suit themselves

Christian Real says:

04:56pm | 21/02/13

Sargeant shultz
I have the printed article and yes I can read much better than you and others obviously
i have a copy of the original news article from this morning, which like other interesting news stories I have filed.

Tedd says:

05:08pm | 21/02/13

that’s not true, PJ.

The Gillard govt has committed an extra $900m odd to Vic for health spending, and Baillieu et al has stripped $600m odd out.

Sergeant Schultz says:

06:39pm | 21/02/13

So , Christian , you will be quite happy to pay extra state tax to cover the funding for a reduction in the elective surgery lists. Gillard is blackmailing the states to reduce first or do without federal funding. The idea , of course , is for the states to raise taxes because Gilliar does not want to make the unpopular revenue raising decisions. With Labor on the nose worse than a kilo of prawns left in the noon day sun , Juliar is panicking and Rudd is honing his skinning knife to a fine edge.
Incidently Christian , those lists are rather long because Bligh left two lists : one for those waiting for elective surgery and one for those waiting to go on list for elective surgery. Should have gone to Spec Savers old mate. !

andrew says:

09:11am | 21/02/13

So true Steve - If australians want to retire in their 60’s they can’t expect to be kept alive into their 80’s and 90’s. The numbers just don’t add up.

Gordon says:

10:27am | 21/02/13

The freer something is the more it costs.

daniel says:

10:42am | 21/02/13

So should the age of retirement perhaps be lifted further? To me it’s the only logical step given that there’s a growing ageing population.

Noelene says:

11:12am | 21/02/13

Apparently we can afford to cover any Tom,Dick or Harry who desires to walk into our country,plus half of their family members as well.When states talk about population growth,where is the growth coming from?

andrew says:

11:25am | 21/02/13

I have no doubt it will be daniel. I’m expecting that over the next decade or so the aged pension will increase to at least 70 years and super preservation age 65 years, and if life expectancy continues to rise it will need to go higher again. Aged pensions will provide for a less comfortable lifestyle as time goes on too, and medicare will cover less treatments as the funding available reduces.

andrew says:

12:21pm | 21/02/13

http://www.news.com.au/money/superannuation/australians-short-on-retirement-funds/story-e6frfmdi-1226582645890

As this article states the average aussie only expects to fund 11 years of retirement before relying solely on the pension, half of the average time spent in retirement. Whether they actually manage that is another story, many probably find their expenses are greater than what they budgeted for.

@64 says:

12:23pm | 21/02/13

andrew says.

If australians want to retire in their 60’s they can’t expect to be kept alive into their 80’s and 90’s. The numbers just don’t add up.

So,  will it be the Greens or one of the two major parties that initiates the Logan Run policy for the aged in oz.

maria says:

02:23pm | 21/02/13

Neither the Commonwealth politiicans or the States and Territories politiicans are being honest with the public.

Lies….damned lies and more lies and we have the best system in the world.

When we have a sick system in which “ shit happens” everyday and when we have the right medecine to cure it why don’t we cure it?

What kind of doctors do we have?
witch doctors, spin doctors,quackers

Who do you believe?

Tony is happy to keep a sick system I’m wondering why?

Alex says:

09:14am | 21/02/13

If there is no money, and federal funding is being axed… Where are you going to find it? Even if you change the party for VIC, it won’t change the fact that there’s no money left…

james says:

09:54am | 21/02/13

There is no money a both levels but its all the fed’s fault?

Balanced reporting.

Alex says:

10:54am | 21/02/13

This is a good question, wish I could see the books for the last 7-10 years. Steve didn’t do VIC any favors by resurrecting unions, and then ALP drove VIC further into the ground, including the Myki project. Which is still crap after millions wasted. Would of rather kept the metcard and pumped that money into health care and education.
So close to the election, and majority of states being Coalition, it’s going to be a blame game. Federal ALP will blame states, states will blame Federal. Just a useless cycle which doesn’t get any funding on the table.

james says:

11:30am | 21/02/13

Alex, i agree with most of your points, however the desal was the only viable option, the libs wanted to build(albeit smaller), and the ALP a larger one.

We seem to forger that there was only 20% in our storages at the time.

PJ says:

02:15pm | 21/02/13

At the beginning of the year Gillard promised $107 million Hospital Funding.

Gillard has played politics withdrawing $107 million of hospital funding.

Sick Kids and adults suffer. Gillard fears the Nation will tune into the results of her playing war with the Coalition States and Victoria gets its funding back.

Gillard had hoped to use the Hospital Funds for sick Australians to help her get the promised Surplus.

Nice right?

maria says:

02:27pm | 21/02/13

The government must be really sick with so many specialists
any idea how to cure it?

james says:

02:31pm | 21/02/13

Thanks Ted fail-you for the cuts to health.

One term premier if he lasts that long.

@64 says:

12:28pm | 21/02/13

OLD MAX says:

Just think of the billions they have wasted on giving so called foreign aid to other countries, before fixing the problems they have created for this country.

Or when they started sending out $900 cheques to people overseas as well as the dead…..

Mr Sam says:

11:36am | 21/02/13

More boats this last few weeks and they will keep coming now that Gillard has given them the NZ incentive!

Rose says:

02:43pm | 21/02/13

Quite simply there are procedures and treatments for all sorts of ailments that never previously existed. We all want these procedures and treatments done if they can improve quality of life or length of life either for ourselves or our loved ones, regardless of age, health and reasonable expectancy of success (if there’s a chance, no matter how slim, we expect doctors to take it).
All these treatments are expensive, increasingly so, and while people expect more they are not willing to pay more. the government is struggling to keep up with paying for the healthcare we assume to be a basic right. Because healthcare boils down to such an emotional level for most of us, we don’t want to hear the truth, that we want what the government can’t pay for. Neither State nor Federal governments want to tell us that giving dear old 95 year old grandma a hip replacement is a bad ‘investment’, or that as long as dear old grandpa continues to smoke that lung cancer treatment is basically throwing good money down the drain, ditto for morbidly obese (who refuses to change her diet and to do some exercise) Aunty Sue’s diabetes treatments and so on. No, instead of telling us that there are limitations to what can be reasonably provided by universal health care they engage in the blame game between levels of governments.

Tedd says:

12:10pm | 21/02/13

this, today, may answer some of that -

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-21/cut-out-the-politics-on-health-gillard/4532178

wm says:

04:01pm | 21/02/13

Thanks alot for that.

I hope the author of this article goes back and re-writes this article and analyses what Tanya has said and explain to us why its true or not true.
But I must say, having heard Plibersek talk and Baillieu talk, I must that Plibersek was WAY WAY more convincing.  Baillieu basically acknowledged her numbers while saying “short-term political fix” over and over again, with no figures and no details.

I must say, I can’t honestly believe Mr Baillieu is an actual premiere. Its quite embarrassing really.

Also, I can not understand why all News Ltd journalist can not criticise a liberal politician, even when they are so obviously in the wrong as this…THIS NO BLAME GAME. Baillieu’s not even it the game! Pathetic.

Elizabeth1 says:

04:55pm | 21/02/13

I have to agree wma. Ted seems incompetent . Missing out on transport funding of millions because they failed to get their submission in on time. Unable to provide figures since June 2012 on elective surgery. Cutting preventative health services funding by 36% in 2012. If Victorian health services behaved this way in their business processes with the Vic Gov they would lose their funding quick smart. I believe Ted is inept and disorganised to extreme.

@64 says:

12:31pm | 21/02/13

Wouldn’t better fiscal management be the place to start

mikem says:

01:02pm | 21/02/13

Do you really think the Libs will do better.  Do they really have the will to tackle the greedy snouts in the health trough who think they have the right to milk the system for as much as they can?  I doubt it.

Christian Real says:

05:08pm | 21/02/13

gof
You mean the current Liberal Coalition Opposition Leader

Tator says:

05:55pm | 21/02/13

Gof, /Christian Real
what a bunch of crap, still trying to peddle that furphy about Abbott.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/contributors/abbotts-billion-dollar-ripoff-the-truth-on-health-funding-20100316-qaq1.html is the real story from a Fairfax reporter.
To paraphrase.  Firstly, Abbott was NOT HEALTH MINISTER when this occurred.
Secondly, funding went UP IN REAL TERMS, so no funding was reduced at all.
Lastly, the so called rip offs were reductions in growth over the forecast period.  And the amounts forecast were forecast by Treasury prior to the Health Agreement being finalised so they were purely assumptions not based on the agreement being negotiated.

PJ says:

02:18pm | 21/02/13

Well done Razor.

Gillard takes back Hospital funds. Wards close operation waiting lists grow.

Gillard gives back the promised funding fearing people like you will realise Gillards action has delivered unnecessary suffering.

PJ says:

04:07pm | 21/02/13

The Australian
“Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek caved in to pressure from the Victorian government to reclaim the money that was cut from the state health budget based on “outdated” population figures. (dirty trick)

But Ballieu victory over the Federal forces of evil will be shortlived:

“The federal government will take the money from other commonwealth funding slated for Victoria”

Gillard’s desperate for funds. Hold on to your pensions here she comes…