Senator Scott Ryan is pleased that Gillard Government’s hospital funding shortfall will come under the scrutiny of a Senate committee.
This matter has been referred for an urgent inquiry to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee, which Senator Ryan chairs.
“Victorian hospitals remain under threat from unprecedented Federal Government funding cuts and the extraordinary requirement they pay back Government money before June 30,” Senator Ryan, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition and Liberal Senator for Victoria, said.
“It is unacceptable that patients in Victoria are suffering due to the Federal Government using flawed population figures as an excuse to cut funding.
“Procedures are being cancelled and delayed, health workers are losing their jobs and hospital management cannot plan in such an uncertain financial environment – and all thanks to Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.”
“I look forward to receiving submissions from interested parties on this crucial issue.”
The committee is due to report its finding on March 7, 2013.