Part of the con: Kevin Rudd offers NSW $5bn lionshare of extra health cash - News.com.au
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will offer NSW a staggering $5 billion in extra health funding this morning as a final offer to convince the state's Premier, Kristina Keneally, to sign up to his national reforms.
NSW will be handed the lion's share of an unprecedented national funding package, worth an extra $15.6 billion, under which the Commonwealth will lock in cast-iron health funding increases of 8.3 per cent a year.
Victoria, where political resistance is strongest to the reforms, is to be offered an extra $3.8 billion, Queensland an extra $3.4 billion and South Australia $1.1 billion. The remaining billions are to be shared out between the ACT, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territories.
Its a good feeling I get when I see where Kevin RUdd places Western Australia in the mix of things. Of course we have a smaller population compared to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. But you do the maths!
For my fellow Western Australian's - rest assured, the con to change the way G.S.T. is distributed, leading to legislation being rewritten and opening the door for further future claw-backs, will have a far greater detrimental impact on our state.
Consider this. To date, we have seen utility costs to WA residents rise, in some case by 50% within 12-18 months. Housing costs have skyrocketed with the return of the demand for our resources (mind you a large proportion of the royalties end up in federal coffers!). Population is growing, second to QLD recently, and this is only likely to grow.
And yet, look where KRudd and co. put our state!
The latest Nielsen poll shows almost two-thirds of voters want the states to sign up to Kevin Rudd's health plan.
The survey, published in Fairfax newspapers today, shows 62 per cent of voters believe the premiers and chief ministers should agree to the health plan.
In New South Wales, there's 63 per cent support, while in South Australia and Queensland support stands at 66 per cent.
In Victoria, there's 58 per cent support, while in Western Australia it's just 51 per cent.
I guess that explains why we get put at the end of the rankings!
Western Australians, be prepared for much higher increases in the cost of electricity, gas, licensing, stamp duties, the list will go on. And no, its not Buswell or Barnett that are at the root of much of this.
Look where KRudd and co. put our state!
Wait until the 30% of G.S.T. claw-back goes higher, since it could once the legislation has changed. Wait until KRudd and co. take a further 10-15 or 20% of State G.S.T. revenues.
Like so many of the current Federal Governments programs of work, it seems this is just another vote-buying-exercise. If the latest round sees a sudden need to rewrite the May Federal budget, it seems that KRudd and co. are not following the set-play! And will this, like the previous vote-buying-exercises, ETS, Solar Power, Health Rebate fiasco, Ceiling insulation bungles, School infrastructure shambles, NBN cash-black-hole, will this one follow in their footsteps?
Where will that put our State then?
Its a sham, and its not about health. Its about budgets, taxes and more bureaucracy. Good luck with that sick people!
Sylvestor
