The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is calling on the Turnbull Government to use tomorrow night’s 2016-17 Budget to begin restoring the $57 billion ripped from national health funding under previous Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Mrs Neroli Ellis, appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Health on Friday in Devonport to outline the dire impacts arising from health cuts and the cessation of the $325m Tasmanian Health Assistance Package on 30 June…
“The Government’s massive shortfall in health funding means that the level of care being delivered by frontline nurses and midwives continues to be compromised in health and aged care settings.”
“The Turnbull Government must use the Budget to stop the cuts to health funding and instead start focusing on providing sufficient funding to the States and Territories which will allow for a fair and equitable health system which provides improved health outcomes for all Australians.”
The ANMF says the Budget must: • Restore the $57 billion from Australia’s public health system;
• Reverse cuts to Medicare services such as pathology and diagnostic imaging;
• Stop plans to privatise Medicare payments;
• Stop further cuts to preventative health programs and services;
• Protect the penalty rates of nurses and midwives;
• Ensure funding and resources are invested into the depleted aged care sector.
“In this election year, the Turnbull Government now has the opportunity to use its first Budget to address the inequities in health and aged care across the country and deliver genuine solutions through the restoration of public health funding,” “Restoring the billions axed from public health and maintaining Medicare must be its key priorities – the privatisation of the country’s health services is not the answer.”
The ANMF, with almost 250,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing in Australia.
Janine Kemp
