FED:Coalition to closely examine COAG reforms

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2011
FED:Coalition to closely examine COAG reforms

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - The NSW opposition says it will not sign up to a national health
reform deal that compromises patient care or leaves NSW in a worse financial position.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said the NSW coalition would "closely
examine" any proposals for further health reform put forward by the federal government
at Sunday's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.

"There is now potentially more money on the table, thanks largely to the state Liberal
governments in Western Australia and Victoria standing up for patients," Ms Skinner said
in a statement on Saturday.

"The NSW Liberals and Nationals are happy to sit down with the Commonwealth to continue
reforming the health system, but we will not sign up to a deal that compromises patient
care or leaves NSW in a worse financial position."

Ms Keneally's health promises had collapsed, Ms Skinner added.

"Kristina Keneally has no plan to reform the health system and she doesn't understand
which questions she needs to ask about this new federal offer."

Earlier on Saturday, Ms Keneally indicated she was optimistic a deal on national health
reform could be reached, once NSW was allowed to keep the funding it was promised at last
year's meeting.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday proposed a 50-50 public hospitals funding arrangement
with the states and territories.

Ms Gillard was forced to come up with the new health deal, ahead of a meeting with
state and territory leaders in Canberra on Sunday, after coalition governments in Western
Australia and Victoria rejected an agreement proposed by former prime minister Kevin
Rudd in 2010.

AAP ih/msk

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS SKINNER

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