Funding for Gold Coast Hospitals, including Robina Hospital, will more than double under the Liberal National Party Government, Federal Member for McPherson Karen Andrews has reassured local residents.
“The Labor party is making claims about funding being ripped out of the system – this is completely untrue. It’s a blatant scare to win votes and does not reflect the actual figures,” Mrs Andrews said.
“The truth is that Federal Government funding for public hospital services in Queensland has increased by 84% since we came to office -from $2.7 billion in 2012-13 to $4.9 billion in 2019-20.”
“And under the current Health Agreement funding is set to continue to increase every year to $6.7 billion in 5 years’ time. It will be more than double what Labor spent when they were in Government.”
Mrs Andrews said the local Gold Coast figures reflected similar growth.
“Under the reported funding for The Gold Coast Local Health Network, which manages Robina and Gold Coast Hospitals, there will be a 229.8% increase since Labor was last in office.”
“Under the Liberal Nationals, funding is projected to increase by from $190 million (in 2012-13) to $629.1 million – that’s to the end of the current Health agreement.”
Mrs Andrews said the record levels of health funding were able to be delivered due to the Coalition’s strong management of the economy.
“Labor makes all sorts of promises on health – but they simply won’t be able to deliver if they don’t have the money.”
“We saw that last time when they were in Government – they actually stopped listing medicines on the PBS because they didn’t have the money. Since we came to office, we’ve listed over 2,000 new medicines on the PBS – which are changing and saving lives.”
Mrs Andrews said the Liberal Nationals had also strengthened Medicare and the GP bulk billing rate in McPherson had increased to 88%.
“Last year, over 982,295 GP visits were bulk billed in McPherson – that’s 176,787 more than Labor’s last year in Government.”
“There have been no funding cuts to hospitals or schools at all – the figures show that funding has significantly increased. Labor should stop their dishonest scare campaign and start explaining how they are going to pay for their promises.”
