PM accuses Shorten of a hospital funding ‘merry-go-round’

The Prime Minister has accused Bill Shorten of a hospital funding ‘merry-go-round’ as the Labor leader again fails to answer the question of what his climate change policies will cost the economy.

Scott Morrison has accused Bill Shorten of a hospital funding “merry-go-round” as the Labor leader is further-pressed on what his climate change policies will cost the economy.

This afternoon Health Minister Greg Hunt accused the Labor state governments of causing a blowout in elective survey wait times by failing to pull their weight in hospital funding.

Scott Morrison then effectively ruled out matching Labor’s pledge to evenly split hospital funding between the federal and state governments saying it lets the states off the hook.

“You don’t get more money invested in the health system if you’re just changing the proportions,” the prime minister said.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Health Greg Hunt at a press conference after visiting The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. Picture: AAP

“If Bill Shorten is talking about 50-50 (funding split) he’s talking about the states spending less and the Commonwealth spending more but the patients get the same. It is a merry-go-round.”

Mr Hunt, who joined the PM to promise to spend $65 million at the Westmead Hospital to establish a specialist cystic fibrosis unit, said hospitals around the country were posting different elective surgery results.

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PScott Morrison and wife Jenny talk about the PM’s love of Cronulla Sharks with Shaun Johnson, aged 12, who suffers from leukaemia. Picture: AAP

“Here at Westmead — we visited both the children’s hospital and we visited Westmead General — what we have seen is each hospitals, for example, are not just meeting, but they are beating their national goals,” he said.

“What we do see, though, is in Victoria and Queensland, both of those states are underfunding their hospitals. In Victoria we have added 55 per cent to Commonwealth funding since 2012-13, Victoria has added 34 per cent.

“So, if they were serious about addressing their challenges, they would match the Commonwealth funding.”

PM SHARES LOVE OF SHARKS WITH YOUNG FAN

Mr Morrison kicked off his Easter campaign efforts at Westmead this morning, where about a dozen young patients were treated to Easter eggs.

When Mr Morrison found out Shaun Thompson shared his love for the Cronulla Sharks the prime minister whipped his phone out so and the pair filmed a message for the 12-year-old’s favourite player Shaun Johnson.

Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where they both handed out Easter eggs to children during the visit, in Sydney. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison told young Shaun, who is undergoing treatment for Leukaemia at the Children’s Hospital, about the halfbacks “great game” against the Panthers on Thursday.

Ahead of Mr Morrison’s two major healthcare announcements, the PM said the Coalition’s strong economic management meant Australians could rely on a government he lead to invest in healthcare.

“From the search for a cure, to the treatment and drugs that help fight cystic fibrosis my government is there every step of the way for Australians dealing with this sinister condition,” he said.

Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt during a press conference today. Picture Gary Ramage

“By establishing this new unit we will be able to give crucial support to patients with Cystic Fibrosis and importantly research, which may one day find a cure.”

Mr Hunt said that the new unit followed the Coalition government’s decision to list of two new medications for cystic fibrosis on the PBS making life changing treatment affordable for many patients.

“Cystic fibrosis can be devastating for patients and their families. This new specialist unit will support patients, ensuring they have the best care possible,” he said.

SHORTEN STILL QUIET ON CLIMATE POLICY COST

Meanwhile Bill Shorten has again failed to answer the question of what his climate change policies will cost the economy.

It came as the Opposition leader ramped up his campaign on penalty rates, with Labor considering resuming parliament early to pass its industrial relations reforms if it wins government.

Labor leader Bill Shorten hopes to reverse cuts to penalty rates. Picture: Kym Smith

Asked whether he could provide a “single figure” on the cost of Labor’s 45 per cent emissions reduction target, Mr Shorten said the assumption of the question “was not correct”.

“Our policy will not cost the taxpayer. The current government is paying billions of dollars in an emissions reduction fund,” Mr Shorten said.

“Over time, as companies reduce their carbon emissions, the cost for companies goes down, but every company has a different story and every company has a different approach to doing it. So there is no one mythical figure.

“The problem with answering your question is simply this: your question makes no allowance for the impact of climate change.

Bill Shorten riding the carousel at Luna Park in Melbourne. Picture: Kym Smith

“Your question is only part of the equation.”

Mr Shorten said the cost to the country would be the same as the government’s policy, as it was using the same emissions safeguards mechanism but would also buy international carbon offsets to achieve its higher target.

In a series of press conferences this week, Mr Shorten has failed to explain the costings of his climate change plan.

Labor has a 45 per cent emissions reduction target, while the Coalition has a target of 26-28 per cent in line with the Paris Accord commitment.

Mr Shorten failed to answer the question of what his climate change policies will cost the economy. Picture: Keri Megelus

On the topic of penalty rates, the Labor leader is considering getting the reversal of penalty rates cuts through the Senate before June 30 — when the new senators elected at this election would take their seats.

Addressing workers at Luna Park in Melbourne, Mr Shorten said low paid workers stood to lose hundreds of dollars over this Easter weekend.

“So, in particular, this weekend, I think about all the young people who are working, whose penalty rates have been cut,” Mr Shorten said.

“I don’t want us to become mini America where the wages are stagnating, where you have got to rely on tips to just make ends meet.

Labor is vowing to reinstate cuts to penalty rates for thousands workers in the retail, fast food, hospitality and pharmacy industries.

‘DEATH TAX’ IS A LIE: SHORTEN

Mr Shorten also slammed the Coalition for claiming Labor will implement a “death tax”, calling the scare campaign “a lie” and “fake news”.

Labor is demanding Facebook investigate the issue after potentially thousands of accounts on Facebook shared an internet link to a legitimate three-month old press release from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg over recent days.

Bill Shorten with his daughter Clementine at Luna Park in Melbourne. Picture: Kym Smith

The press release claims: “Labor, the Greens and unions have signed an agreement to introduce a 40 per cent inheritance tax.”

Mr Shorten said the Coalition should be “ashamed of themselves” for the scare campaign.

“And I think the Liberal Party need to be ashamed of themselves using low rent, American-style fake news, which is actually a lie, and then trying to scare different communities throughout Australia.”

He also said the Coalition has questions to answer over $80 million of water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The two water licences were bought by the government for a total of $80 million in 2017 from a company once associated with Energy Minister Angus Taylor.

The deal with Eastern Australia Agriculture was signed off by the then Water Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Mr Shorten made his announcement in the seat of Macnamara, previously named Melbourne Ports which is being vacated by the retiring Labor MP Michael Danby (pictured). Picture: AAP

Mr Shorten’s Luna Park address was in the new seat of Macnamara which covers Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs of Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, South Yarra and St Kilda — was previously named Melbourne Ports and is being vacated by the retiring Labor MP Michael Danby.

With a margin of just 1.2 per cent, Macnamara will be a three-cornered contest between Labor, the Greens and Liberals.

The Coalition was quietly confident of picking up this seat when Malcolm Turnbull was at the helm but since last year’s leadership spill both parties are expecting Labor to keep the seat.

The seat has one of the highest proportion of Jewish residents in the country, and former Jewish member Mr Danby was considered to be a popular local member.

Kate Ashmor is running for the Liberal Party, while Josh Burns is the Labor hopeful.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will make two major healthcare announcements today. Picture: AAP

Originally published as PM accuses Shorten of a hospital funding ‘merry-go-round’