In a media release issued on Tues 22nd Oct 2019 the NSW Labor Opposition has condemned the Berejiklian Liberal Government for secretly moving to slash more than a quarter of a billion dollars from a NSW health system.
Internal documents obtained and published by Labor show NSW Health is being heavied by Dominic Perrottet’s Treasury to cut $252 million during the 2019-20 financial year with the amount of the so-called “Treasury Cap” set to increase each year.
Citing “significant fiscal challenges affecting the NSW economy” – a far cry from the Liberals’ boasts about their economic management – the savage cuts in 2019-20 include:
$150 million cut from Local Health Districts and the Sydney Hospital Network
$67 million cut from Ambulance, Pathology, HealthShare and other Health Administration Corporation functions
$35 million cut from the Ministry of Health and “pillar” organisations such as the Cancer Institute NSW, Bureau of Health Information, Agency for Clinical Innovation, Clinical Excellence Commission and Health Education and Training Institute.
The release from Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park said "The system is is already grossly overcrowded and understaffed."
“In order to deliver on election commitments, NSW Health will collectively be required to achieve cost savings of $252 million in FY2019-20”.
“The Treasury Cap will increase over the next three years”.
“Review of the whole purchasing and funding model in NSW for next year”.
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay said: “Last week, my Labor team had to walk out of Parliament to stand up against elective surgery cuts at Western Sydney Hospitals.”
“Now we know why the surgeons were so angry – that was just the tip of the iceberg. The Berejiklian Government is ripping a quarter of a billion dollars out of NSW hospitals this financial year.”
“The public has a right to know the breakdown of these cuts at every Local Health District across NSW – and I call on the Berejiklian Government to provide this information.”
“These are shameful and shocking cuts to a health system that is overcrowded and under-resourced. Our hard-working health staff are now openly rebelling against the Liberals’ mismanagement of health.”
Shadow Minister for Health Ryan Park added: “Gladys Berejiklian looked the people in the eye at March and said they could have it all. Now she and her Treasurer are enforcing savage cuts to the health budget that are set to rise every single year.”
“These cuts will impact every Local Health District. They hurt our pathologists and paramedics, and vital organisations such as the Cancer Institute.”
“The Berejiklian Government lurches from one disaster to another on health but Labor will always stand up for proper resourcing of our hospitals.”
Above: Internal documents obtained and published by Labor "show NSW Health is being heavied by Dominic Perrottet’s Treasury to cut $252 million during the 2019-20 financial year. "
