Health Minister Yvette D’Ath remains silent on hospital savings
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath continues to refuse to answer questions about how much money will be saved through health efficiency dividends ahead of the State Budget.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has refused to say how much money will be saved through efficiency dividends that are set to be imposed on the state’s hospital and health services.
It comes amid revelations that some hospital boards are considering not signing service agreements ahead of this month’s looming State Budget.
Ms D’Ath on Thursday conceded there had been some “delays” in the process, but insisted she was comfortable with “the way it’s progressing”.
“This has been a difficult time because of Covid,” the Health Minister said.
“We had a late Budget late last year after the election and then this Budget this year, so certainly there’s been some delays in the process.”
Ms D’Ath would not say what savings would be created through efficiency dividends that are set to be imposed on health and hospital services – instead saying everyone would see the Budget in a week and a half.
“Every agency is having to find efficiency dividends,” she said.
“We’ve been making efficiency measures for the last four years in health and been doing a fantastic job.
“We will continue to find savings in the system because that’s what we need to do.”
She denied there would be any cuts to health budgets, promising a record spend for health when the State Budget is handed down later this month.
“We are not cutting their Budget, we are increasing the Budget,” she said.
“I have been working with the chairs and the chief executives of all of our hospital and health service boards.
“We know that their service agreements are due to be negotiated and signed up shortly and I will work with them.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said with a rise in CPI, there would always be a record spend.
“My issue is what’s happening on the frontline,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“My issue is asking local (Health and Hospital Services) to make savings at a time when they are already stretched.”
Revealed: Property millions behind frontrunners vying to be premier
Real estate records have uncovered how much property the frontrunners vying to become the next Premier really have.
Both parties’ multibillion-dollar elephant in the room
The big elephant in the room of this state election campaign is how the winner will pay for its billions of dollars’ worth of promises, writes the editor.