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

Unregulated internet not an option: Conroy - iTWire

Leaving the online world as an unregulated distribution medium actually "weakens all that is good about the internet," Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has told the Sydney Institute in a detailed defence of the Rudd Government's digital policy agenda.

Internet filter not censorship: Conroy

Senator Conroy said ISP level filtering alone was not enough to help fight child pornography or keep children safe online, which was why the government supported the block of content such as child sexual abuse imagery and material advocating terrorism.

"This is a modest measure, which reflects long held community standards about the type of content that is unacceptable in a civilised society," he said.

"Those who claim the government's approach is akin to the sort of political censorship practiced by authoritarian regimes are simply misleading the Australian public."

Filter unnecessary: US ambassador

The United States' ambassador to Australia last night said there were "other means" available to achieve the goals of the Federal Government's internet filtering project, adding to the impression that the US disapproved of the project.

US Ambassador Jeff Bleich (Credit: US State Department)

US Ambassador Jeff Bleich responded to a question on the ABC's Q&A program last night, saying the US had told the Australian Government that it had been able to accomplish the goals of the filter — which Bleich described as capturing and prosecuting child pornographers and others who use the internet for a "terrible purpose" — without using internet filters.

"We have other means and we are willing to share our efforts with them in order to allow them to at least look at a range of choices, as opposed to moving in one particular direction," he said.

Just a wrap up of recent comments. Necessary, not-necessary, effective, not effective. Will help, won't work, Is mandatory, can be bypassed - legally.

And how much is this costing me Senator Conroy?

Sounds a bit dodgy to me!

Sylvestor

By Alan Kohler

News Ltd splashed on Conroy skiing with Kerry Stokes, part-owner of the Seven Network, in Colorado. (Barrie Cassidy)

The $235 million tax cut for commercial TV networks announced three weeks ago was indeed a bribe, as alleged by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, but not for what he thinks.

It's also a perfect demonstration of why legislators and regulators should never hobnob with those whom they regulate.

Reducing it this year and next and then having another look at whole fee regime was a sensible decision - in fact, in my view it was the only possible decision in the light of the Government's need for the networks' cooperation in the digital switchover and the freeing up spectrum.

The Government desperately needs the networks to drive digital take-up and to help with a number of complex technical issues involved in the digital switchover - due to take place in 2013.

But what should have been a sensible recognition of reality was turned into a "grubby bribe" by Senator Conroy hobnobbing with billionaires on the slopes.

Alan Kohler is Publisher of Business spectator and Eureka Report, as well as finance presenter on ABC News and presenter of Inside Business.