QUEENSLAND remains on life support thanks to the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s great funding bluff in this year’s Budget.
Shockingly, in the middle of the Queensland Health Crisis, 95%, or $9.251 billion of the 2023/24 Queensland Health Budget is pushed out beyond this financial year.
Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Ros Bates said the 2023/24 Budget further undermined Queensland’s public health system.
“For the second year in a row, Queenslanders have been promised ‘record’ funding for Queensland Health, but this is a promise without a pulse,” Ms Bates said.
“Close examination of the Budget papers reveals the true extent of the lie with the Government planning to spend only 4.2% of the $9.251 billion budget over the next 12 months.”
This follows another record underspend for Queensland Health in 2022/23 with only 1.2% of the allocated budget expended.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is all promise and no delivery when it comes to fixing the Queensland Health crisis,” she said.
“Despite their big Budget announcement, there is no funding to fix the Queensland Health Crisis that is happening right now.
“We’ve been here before, last year’s ‘record’ budget gave Queenslanders the worst ambulance ramping in the nation at 43%.
“There are 280,000 patients waiting to see a specialist doctor while 23.7% of Queenslanders who need elective surgery are not seen within clinically recommended times.
“The chaos and crisis within the Palaszczuk Labor Government is making the Queensland Health Crisis even worse.
“After three terms, eight years and four Health Ministers, the Palaszczuk Labor Government isn’t listening to doctors, nurses or paramedics and ignoring the pleas from Queenslanders.
“The LNP has put health solutions on the table including more resources, better triaging, releasing data in real time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.
Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki said the Budget failed to deliver the long-term solutions Queenslanders were demanding and deserve.
“The Treasurer has pocketed an extra $60 billion than he forecast in his first Budget less than three years ago, but there’s nothing to show for it,” Mr Janetzki said.
“Queenslanders know they can’t trust the Palaszczuk Labor Government to deliver the solutions we need to the Queensland Health Crisis.
“Queensland Health is on life support and this Budget will not resuscitate it.”