THE state and federal governments have again clashed over Redland Hospital funding, with Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles and Prime Minister Scott Morrison accusing one another of cutting funding.
Mr Miles said on Thursday that Mr Morrison and Bowman MP Andrew Laming should reverse $52.7 million in cuts to Metro South Health and Redland Hospital.
Mr Morrison – who held a meet-and-greet near the Redland Hospital on Thursday – said the federal government had put in $89 million while the Labor state government had ripped out $39 million.
“We've delivered,” Mr Morrison said. “We’ve put more in and they’ve taken money out. “It doesn't get more stark than that.”
Mr Miles said that Mr Laming had failed to stand up to Mr Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt to advocate for Redland Hospital.
“Instead of fighting for more funding for his hospital, Andrew Laming has handpicked dodgy figures that don’t tell the true story to hide the fact that the Morrison government has failed Redlands residents,” Mr Miles said.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said the Palaszczuk government was delivering a record $2.408 billion in 2018-19 for Metro South Health, a $93 million increase.
“We’ve increased funding year-on-year since coming to government,” Ms Richards said.
“This funding includes $1.73 million to expand Redland Hospital’s emergency department and upgrade maternity services.
“This means four new beds to keep up with demand as well as a water birthing suite.”
Capalaba MP Don Brown said the Morrison government had cut $316.1 million from Queensland hospitals.
Mr Morrison said that he had called on the state government to accept a record funding offer of $7.5 billion or more for hospitals.
“Everyone else has signed that,” he said. “The Queensland government won’t.
“Only they can explain why they don’t want money for their hospitals.
“We can only come, bring the funds, put them on the table and say let’s work together.”
Mr Laming said the federal government provided activity-based funding.
He said funding had gone up 14 per cent last year and 14 per cent this year because of how hard staff had been working.
“It’s the state government that pulls money out because they’re skimming the Commonwealth money and they’re investing it where their political preferences are and that’s why we’re being ripped off in our city,” Mr Laming said.
