Fagg calls funding truce: MPs must ‘work together’ on health funding

POLITICIANS need to drop the blame game and solve Geelong Hospital’s funding crisis, according to Mayor Keith Fagg.
MPs on both sides of parliament must work together to reverse unexpected federal funding cuts savaging Barwon Health, he said.
“It’s a great concern to me,” Cr Fagg told the Independent.
“I’m calling on both the federal and state governments to sort it out it. It’s impacting on people’s health and access to services.”
Cr Fagg said the cash cuts threatened beds, waiting lists, job and recruiting.
The community needed “a good resolution as quickly as possible’’.
“It’s my great desire they can forget their political differences and get an outcome that’s fair and reasonable for all concerned.”
Barwon Health chief executive officer David Ashbridge backed Cr Fagg’s call.
“Our expectation is that all local MPs lobby on behalf of the community to maintain the health services in the region,” he said.
Local MPs were agreeable about meeting on the funding issue but were unprepared to cede ground on who should provide additional funding.
Corangamite’s Labor MP, Darren Cheeseman, insisted the Baillieu Government had cut $616 million from health funding over two years and that the federal cuts were warranted under population figures.
But South Barwon Liberal MP Andrew Katos said the Gillard Government was to blame.
“They already made an agreement and then half-way through the year they reversed on absurd population figures,” Mr Katos said.
“Our last budget shows record health budgets, almost a quarter of the total budget. I don’t know where they get that figure of $616 million.”
Mr Katos said all health agencies were targeting Canberra over the cuts, not State Government.
Corio Labor MP Richard Marles said he and Mr Cheeseman had spoken to Health Minister Tanya Plibersek “on many occasions’’ about Geelong funding.
Mr Marles said he encouraged a meeting between Ms Plibersek and Mr Ashbridge last year.
He insisted federal Labor was boosting health cash to Victoria by $900m over four years.
Western Victoria Liberal MP David Koch said the issue threatened Mr Cheeseman’s grasp on the marginal seat of Corangamite and the Gillard Government’s survival at the forthcoming election.
“I’d be disappointed if members of parliament of all persuasion weren’t concerned about what’s going on with health funding,” Mr Koch said.