Health’s missing millions

Politicians’ war of words as state claims …

AUSTRALIA’S Health Minister has rubbished claims the Federal Government has short-changed Geelong $5 million owed to Barwon Health.

The state Labor Government yesterday claimed the federal Coalition Government was refusing to pay more than $100 million it owes Victoria under the 2011 National Health Reform Agreement — including $5 million for Barwon Health.

State Health Minister Jill Hennessy said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government owed Victoria the money as a reimbursement under the agreement for treating tens of thousands of extra patients.

“Victorians deserve to know why Malcolm Turnbull is once again short-changing them — this time at the expense of their health,” Ms Hennessy said yesterday. “It’s not good enough.”

But federal Health Minister Greg Hunt hit back at the claims, labelling them lies.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see (Victorian Premier) Daniel Andrews trying to scaremonger vulnerable cancer patients,” Mr Hunt said. “It’s a pretty low act. “The Andrews Government is not only lying but has no shame.”

Geelong state Labor MPs also hit out at the Federal Government this week.

“When Malcolm Turnbull cuts Victoria’s health funding to prop up his Budget bottom line, our patients miss out on lifesaving treatment,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said. And Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said: “Instead of playing political games from his waterside mansion in Sydney, Malcolm Turnbull should actually come to the people of Geelong and meet some of the patients his funding cuts will impact.”

Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson labelled the state’s claims “lies”.

“Labor knows it is on the nose and is resorting to these desperate tactics,” she said.