LIBERAL Senator Gary Humphries says figures his office recently obtained shows that the ACT missed out on funding to assist Canberra’s already ailing healthcare system.
The information on the Medicare Locals system showed $493 million will go towards co-ordinating primary healthcare delivery across Australia, however only 0.85 per cent of the amount was put aside for Canberra.
“About 1.5 per cent of Australians live in Canberra, and many more use Canberra as a regional health delivery centre,” Senator Humphries said.
“Canberrans are already dealing with some of the longest hospital waiting times, and some of the most expensive healthcare in the country, and the best that Labor can do is throw less than 1 per cent of a national funding initiative at the problem.
“The correspondence I have received back from the Federal health department proves just how little the Labor Government knows and cares about Canberra.”
Further information acquired by Senator Humphries also showed that none of the Territory’s three Federal Labor representatives ever approached the Health Minister to discuss the grants or petition for any allocation.
“Andrew Leigh, Gai Brodtmann and Kate Lundy can hang their heads in shame,” Senator Humphries said.
“They are out there claiming that they are representing the interests of the people of Canberra, yet when Canberra needed their help the most, they sat back and did nothing.”
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