February 14, 2013
State Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says a phantom army of more than 100,000 Queenslanders was deducted from the State’s population growth figures to justify federal cuts to hospital and health services and endanger up to 2000 health jobs.
Mr Springborg said research by State health departments had uncovered duplicity in cuts by Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan that will strip $103 million from hospital and health services in Queensland.
“This research has exposed a smoking gun. The actual population figures for the December 2010–December 2011 period were forwarded to the Federal Department of Regional Australia, Local Government Arts and Sport in June 2012,” Mr Springborg said.
“These Bureau of Statistics figures showed that in the 12-month period, Queensland’s population increased by 67,000. However six months later, when Mr Swan cut $103 million from Queensland Health, alternative figures were used to indicate a fall of 35,000 in the Queensland population.
“The Treasurer’s creative accounting has impacted on health budgets across Australia which is why every State Health Minister agrees that the Swan cuts are unfair.”
“Population figures are used to determine the level of Commonwealth contributions to public health services.
“In Queensland alone, Mr Swan managed to lose the entire population of the city of Toowoomba.
“By running two sets of books, he wanted to plug a $103 million hole in his Federal Budget, but at a terrible cost to our front-line health services and to health workers and patients.”
Mr Springborg said the Senate had begun an inquiry into the impact of the Federal Treasurer’s cuts.
“These numbers should be reviewed by the Senate as part of its inquiry,” he said.
“Until it reports, Mr Swan should agree to a moratorium on any change in federal health funding.”
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