Federal health cuts

MEMBER for Southern Downs and Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg, has demanded an explaination from the Federal Government over a pre-budget press release which projects a further $400 million in Federal health funding cuts in 2013/14.
Mr Springborg said that compared to Commonwealth figures released just six months ago, the latest forecasts by the Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek showed an alarming drop in Commonwealth health support.
“In her press release today, Ms Plibersek said that over the next four years, funding for Queensland Health would be ‘going from $2.8 billion in 2013-14 to $3.8 billion in 2016-17’,” Mr Springborg said
“But following the disastrous mid-year funding cuts last year, we were promised a revised total for 2012-13 of $3.1 billion and $3.26 billion in 2013-14.”
Mr Springborg said it seemed likely the numbers in the press release were incorrect.
“It is possible the figures quoted in the release do not include National Partnership funding, and do not correspond to the MYEFO projections,” he said.
“It is hard to believe such a fundamental mistake could be included in an official press release on Budget day and so on behalf of Queenslanders, I ask the Minister to please explain.”