The Canberra Liberals say the ACT has again been short-changed on health funding, despite a fresh National Cabinet announcement that will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to the territory over the next five years.
The opposition acknowledged the additional funding identified in the agreement but warned Canberrans should not celebrate until the detail is made public.
ACT Labor has pointed to a reported $557 million in extra funding over five years, but the Canberra Liberals argue that figure equates to about $111 million a year — an amount they say is modest compared with the territory’s broader financial pressures.
They note the ACT lost more than half a billion dollars last year to interest expenses alone and are calling for transparency around how the new funding will be rolled out year by year.
Canberra Liberals Leader and Shadow Health Minister Mark Parton said there were serious concerns the funding would not translate into better frontline services.
“The ACT Health Minister must explain how this funding will genuinely improve emergency wait times, surgery backlogs, and workforce pressures, not just prop up a struggling budget,” Mr Parton said.
The opposition also questioned whether the funding would keep pace with rising costs, suggesting that by the third year of the deal it may not even cover public service wage increases under the next enterprise agreement.
Mr Parton criticised the timing of the Health Minister’s engagement in negotiations, pointing to comments she made on local radio earlier this week.
“I’ve been involved in discussions. Just yesterday, when I got back, I think things are now moving quite quickly,” the Minister said.
Mr Parton said Canberrans expected stronger advocacy.
“Canberrans expect their Health Minister to be fighting every day for a better deal, not turning up late once decisions are already being locked in,” he said.
After years of Labor government, the Canberra Liberals say ACT Health remains under pressure from funding shortfalls, inefficiencies, rising costs and poor financial management, contributing to longer waiting times, staff shortages and uncertainty across the system.
Mr Parton said it was now up to the ACT Government to address efficiency in health delivery.
“It’s now the responsibility on the ACT Government to now find efficiency in health delivery. Simply spending more money won’t address the underlying cost pressures that are ravaging the ACT budget,” he said.
The Canberra Liberals say they will hold the ACT Government to account to ensure the agreement delivers tangible improvements for patients rather than what they describe as more “spin, more debt, and more excuses.”
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