Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bows to state demands to extend COVID-era health funding, committing to spend an extra $760 million.
Extra health funding handed to the states during the height of the COVID pandemic will continue until the end of the year, with new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bowing to demands from the states for the money.
Going into the first national cabinet meeting since Mr Albanese's election, state and territory leaders were united on continuing the special funding. The Prime Minister had talked down the prospect of continuing a 50:50 split in hospital funding between the states and the Commonwealth, which was due to expire in September.Mr Albanese said national cabinet's agreement was not just about funding, but also reforming the health network to get people out of emergency departments who didn't need to be there.
"Our hospital system at the moment has people [in emergency departments] who should be being looked after by their local GP," Mr Albanese said. "The lack of nurses and health professionals in the aged care system means that many people who should be either being looked after at home or looked after as aged care residents end up in the hospital system as well, putting further pressure on the system.
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