Federal Government boosts healthcare budget amid calls for reforms

As we age, access to quality healthcare becomes increasingly vital, and the strain on the system can often mean longer waiting times and delayed treatments.

In a move that received collective relief from Australians, the Federal Government announced a substantial investment which could be a beacon of hope for many.


The Federal Government gave Medicare a $1.7 billion boost aimed at bolstering public hospitals.

The funding should also jumpstart much-needed health reforms.

It should also alleviate the immense pressure the Australian healthcare system has been under, especially after COVID-19.


compressed-pexels-hospital beds.jpeg
Hospitals across Australia should see changes brought upon by the billion-dollar boost. Image Credit: Pexels/Pixabay


The $1.7 billion fund was a one-off boost that should be distributed equitably across all states and territories.

The total Commonwealth funding for public hospitals and health services should reach $33.91 billion by the 2025-26 financial year.

This boost was more than just a number; it could also be a lifeline for the many Australians who have been waiting for essential medical procedures or struggling to access the care they need.


'Labor created Medicare, and we will protect it and strengthen it,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared, emphasising the party's historical connection to the healthcare system.

'Healthcare is the first issue I engaged with as a very young man; it's what brought me into politics; nothing's more important.'

Health Minister Mark Butler also opened up about the need to reform Australia's public health system.

'We have a terrific public health system, but it is a hospital system under very serious pressure,' Minister Butler stated.


The funding allocation has been carefully considered.

The Northern Territory should receive a $51 million boost, addressing what Butler described as 'grossly inequitable' conditions.

Other states should also see significant funding, with NSW receiving $407 million, Victoria with $402 million, Queensland with $414 million and Western Australia with $158 million.

South Australia should also receive $169 million, and both Tasmania and the ACT should receive $50 million each.


The announcement came on the heels of the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) call for a multibillion-dollar overhaul of Medicare.

The AMA's Modernise Medicare proposal wanted to address critical issues in healthcare and general practice across the country.

For seniors with regular medical needs, this funding could mean shorter wait times, more accessible GP services, and an overall improvement in healthcare services.

It's a step towards ensuring that Australians are supported by a healthcare system that is robust, responsive, and respectful of everyone's needs.
Key Takeaways

  • The federal government announced a $1.7 billion boost to Medicare to strengthen Australia's public hospital system.
  • The investment aimed to deliver structural health reform and should be distributed across all states and territories.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised the importance of healthcare and his commitment to strengthening Medicare.
  • The funding was a response to the public health system's significant pressure.
How do you think will the $1.7 billion boost change your regular health check-ups? We would love to hear your thoughts on this development, so share your opinions and expectations in the comments below.
 

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Doesn’t look good that WA is receiving such a small amount of funding. I have now been charged for my visits to the doctor. In a State of such vast distances we need government assistance to deliver medical services to all our citizens. It is an important need to maintain our access to good health services to all wherever they may live
 
A good bit less money to sports and sporting events would go a decent way in our medical training needs.
 
People are quick to blame to current government for past issues with health care and Medicare.

Do you not remember that Gough Whitlam brought in the idea of a national health service?

Then in 1981, the Fraser government completely abolished Medibank. That worked well, didn't it?

Thankfully, the Hawke government reinstated Medibank, under the guise of Medicare, in early 1984.

The LNP has the covert notion of making Australia's health system a model on the US system, which discriminates against lower socio-economic sections of the population.

Let the rich get richer, while the poor can die in the streets.

Capitalist pigs!
 
Hi, just came back after a while away due to illness!
We can put blame on successive govts but rather than pick & choose (cos none have been successful really) how about we go back to how it was!
Everyone who worked or could afford to, had private health cover & it was affordable for everyone in that space so their taxes went to help the ones who relied on Social Security (as it was known) EG pensioners, unemployed etc!
That’s the way our society should be, the “better off” helping the “not so well off”! But we’ve blurred the lines there due to greed & privatising essential things that only the govt should have jurisdiction over!
Our health funds are private & making zillions, insurance coys making zillions, private (mostly foreign) concerns own our telcos, our energy, our water (prob our air one day!!!!) the list goes on & on!
And, the blame lies with all the govts to date because none have tried to fix it - & they could if they really cared to!!
THEY DONT!!!!!!
They waste our money pretending to care & pay for reviews, Royal commissions etc etc etc but do they take notice of these? They treat them like a smorgasbord pick & choosing one or two recommendations & shelving the rest!
Anyhow, in SA we had a Labour Govt (2ago) & they had this wonderful idea they called Transforming Health!!!!
Wow! It sure did - shut down the Repat Hospital, certain hospitals for certain things, which saw wards closed, theatres closed, dangerous practises of ambulances having to bypass a hospital & take about another 15 mins or more to get to next one because one doesn’t have a cardiac dept anymore!!!!
That 15 mins could mean someone dying & I’m damned sure if it was a politicians mother or fam member, they wouldn’t be happy about that any more than rest of us!!!! STUPIDITY
ALSO, regarding nurses, give me a nurse who lived in the Nurses training Hospital on North Tce, next to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (the former one)!
My sister trained & lived in there & she came out a good nurse as most did! They had practical experience not going to uni to learn like todays young ones & then getting shock at what is expected of them in the real nursing world!!
Anyway, it’s good to have a say again but I see there are some who are still a bit prickly about some things!
Lighten up & agree to disagree folks!
How boring we would be if we were all the same!
Just one answer for the person who labeled the LNP as Capitalist Pigs,
I heard the lefties described by UK politician once as “Socialists are just Communists in a hurry!”
Each to their own I say!
All I know is how lucky we are to live in best country on this planet!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
OI, OI, OI 🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺
 
Hi, just came back after a while away due to illness!
We can put blame on successive govts but rather than pick & choose (cos none have been successful really) how about we go back to how it was!
Everyone who worked or could afford to, had private health cover & it was affordable for everyone in that space so their taxes went to help the ones who relied on Social Security (as it was known) EG pensioners, unemployed etc!
That’s the way our society should be, the “better off” helping the “not so well off”! But we’ve blurred the lines there due to greed & privatising essential things that only the govt should have jurisdiction over!
Our health funds are private & making zillions, insurance coys making zillions, private (mostly foreign) concerns own our telcos, our energy, our water (prob our air one day!!!!) the list goes on & on!
And, the blame lies with all the govts to date because none have tried to fix it - & they could if they really cared to!!
THEY DONT!!!!!!
They waste our money pretending to care & pay for reviews, Royal commissions etc etc etc but do they take notice of these? They treat them like a smorgasbord pick & choosing one or two recommendations & shelving the rest!
Anyhow, in SA we had a Labour Govt (2ago) & they had this wonderful idea they called Transforming Health!!!!
Wow! It sure did - shut down the Repat Hospital, certain hospitals for certain things, which saw wards closed, theatres closed, dangerous practises of ambulances having to bypass a hospital & take about another 15 mins or more to get to next one because one doesn’t have a cardiac dept anymore!!!!
That 15 mins could mean someone dying & I’m damned sure if it was a politicians mother or fam member, they wouldn’t be happy about that any more than rest of us!!!! STUPIDITY
ALSO, regarding nurses, give me a nurse who lived in the Nurses training Hospital on North Tce, next to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (the former one)!
My sister trained & lived in there & she came out a good nurse as most did! They had practical experience not going to uni to learn like todays young ones & then getting shock at what is expected of them in the real nursing world!!
Anyway, it’s good to have a say again but I see there are some who are still a bit prickly about some things!
Lighten up & agree to disagree folks!
How boring we would be if we were all the same!
Just one answer for the person who labeled the LNP as Capitalist Pigs,
I heard the lefties described by UK politician once as “Socialists are just Communists in a hurry!”
Each to their own I say!
All I know is how lucky we are to live in best country on this planet!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
OI, OI, OI 🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺
I LIKE YOUR STYLE BUT THE CAPITALIST PIG WILL NOT. A VERY GOOD COMMENT. THANK YOU.
 
you sure know how to finnish off your complaints. by using the terminology of capitalist pigs you are showing every angle of your jealousy.
 
Strange that article!! hospitals are a state problem & no guantee that any money if given to the states will go into the Health/hospital systems.
Need more Doctor's & clinics, that comes under the jurisdiction of Medicare.
Must be an election coming.
Who is the capitalist pig?

Malcolm Turnbull?
I think Malcolm Turnbull was the best (Labour) Liberal Prime Minister we’ve had - joking of course!! The Labour Party should have had him cos that’s where he belonged & tried to beBut was rejected! Liberals didn’t like him cos he was too much of a lefty!! He was not a great Prime Minister & would have done damage to Liberal party if he stayed on!
By the way I am a Liberal Conservative but I don’t usually use terms like Capitalists Pigs when describing the other side, other than to say I’d rather be a conservative than a “Communist in a hurry” as was quoted by the UK gentleman when describing the Labour Party who are Socialists. (Reminds me of the former USSR!)
Anyhow, isn’t it great that we can all follow & talk about who we like in politics with no fear of being jailed(or worse!)!!?? That’s democracy!! The best side to follow😊🇦🇺
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Veggiepatch
I think Malcolm Turnbull was the best (Labour) Liberal Prime Minister we’ve had - joking of course!! The Labour Party should have had him cos that’s where he belonged & tried to beBut was rejected! Liberals didn’t like him cos he was too much of a lefty!! He was not a great Prime Minister & would have done damage to Liberal party if he stayed on!
By the way I am a Liberal Conservative but I don’t usually use terms like Capitalists Pigs when describing the other side, other than to say I’d rather be a conservative than a “Communist in a hurry” as was quoted by the UK gentleman when describing the Labour Party who are Socialists. (Reminds me of the former USSR!)
Anyhow, isn’t it great that we can all follow & talk about who we like in politics with no fear of being jailed(or worse!)!!?? That’s democracy!! The best side to follow😊🇦🇺
Australian politics and UK politics are poles apart with the exception of both being based on the Westminster system.
 
Australian politics and UK politics are poles apart with the exception of both being based on the Westminster system.
Thankyou for your information which I knew as I’ve lived under both, but capitalism & socialism (& communism) are not poles apart in their concepts no matter where you hail from!!
And yes, we are very lucky to live under the Westminster system of government rather than banging on about becoming a republic - show me a
Australian politics and UK politics are poles apart with the exception of both being based on the Westminster system.
 
Thankyou for your information which I knew as I’ve lived under both, but capitalism & socialism (& communism) are not poles apart in their concepts no matter where you hail from!!
And yes, we are very lucky to live under the Westminster system of government rather than banging on about becoming a republic! We are prob closer to becoming a Socialist country the more the govt seems to be giving itself more power all time!😱
 
LOL It was the LNP that started the decline in Medicare while they were in office for nearly a very long decade. They believe in private health more. Anything public is not on their agenda. You are obviously a No-alition voter and it wouldn’t matter how good something Labor put forward you and your lot would find fault with it.
That’s because there’s not a great deal of good things that they have put forward!!!😜🤪😜🤪
 
I think Malcolm Turnbull was the best (Labour) Liberal Prime Minister we’ve had - joking of course!! The Labour Party should have had him cos that’s where he belonged & tried to beBut was rejected! Liberals didn’t like him cos he was too much of a lefty!! He was not a great Prime Minister & would have done damage to Liberal party if he stayed on!
By the way I am a Liberal Conservative but I don’t usually use terms like Capitalists Pigs when describing the other side, other than to say I’d rather be a conservative than a “Communist in a hurry” as was quoted by the UK gentleman when describing the Labour Party who are Socialists. (Reminds me of the former USSR!)
Anyhow, isn’t it great that we can all follow & talk about who we like in politics with no fear of being jailed(or worse!)!!?? That’s democracy!! The best side to follow😊🇦🇺
the ghost was terrible. i am with you, blue through and through.
 

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