Daily London
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Albanese said the federal government has agreed to pay an additional $25 billion for public hospitals, taking the total up to a record $219.6 billion over the next five years.
“We’ve reached a landmark agreement to deliver record funding to state and territory hospitals, but also secure the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” he said.
“The agreement represents one of the most significant national reforms in living memory. These reforms will ensure Australians continue to access world-class healthcare as well as disability support.
“This is three times more additional funding for public hospitals than was agreed to under the last five-year agreement.”
Albanese thanked the state and territory leaders for finding common ground after what he said was a “long period of time” and keeping the focus on patients and not politics.
The deal was $2 billion more than what Albanese offered in December, but the federal government was under pressure to reach an agreement today ahead of the South Australian government entering caretaker mode from February 21 for the state election.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler had admitted there would not be enough time to secure a deal before the current funding agreement expired on June 30 if one was not reached today.
“I’ve said very honestly and clearly I think that the runway is getting shorter for a 5-year deal to be negotiated this side on 30 June,” he told reporters yesterday.
Under the 2023 agreement, the federal government agreed to increase its share of public hospital funding to 42.5 per cent by 2030 and 45 per cent by 2035 in exchange for the states and territories to help fund disability services.
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