Opposition marks $250m for ‘blitz’ on waiting lists

Bill Shorten will today promise $250 million to cut hospital waiting lists for elective surgeries.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speaks at a 2019 Federal Election volunteers rally in the electorate of Reid in Sydney, yesterday. Picture: Kym Smith

Bill Shorten will today promise $250 million to cut hospital waiting lists for elective surgeries, with Labor saying the commitment could stop people from waiting up to two months for knee replacements and cataract removals.

Health is the key focus of Labor’s campaign this week, with the Opposition Leader turning his attention to hospitals after unveiling his $2.3 billion Medicare cancer care plan.

Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said today’s commitment would be a key part of Labor’s $2.8bn Better Hospitals Fund.

“Procedures such as knee and hip replacements or cataract surgeries aren’t elective — they are essential,” she said. “The average wait time for elective surgery has increased by more than 10 per cent since the Liberals were elected in 2013. Labor’s $250m investment could pay for more than 62,000 cataract procedures or 9800 knee replacements or 9400 hip ­replacements.

“The $250m waiting-list blitz is in addition to the $500m commitment to slash public hospital waiting lists for cancer patients as part of our Medicare cancer plan.”

NSW would receive $72m, Victoria $58m and Queensland $45m alone to cut elective surgery waiting lists under the plan.

Between 2013 and 2018, the number of people waiting on elective surgery joining lists has outstripped the number of patients removed from them.

Both parties have announced plans to cut elective surgery waiting times in Tasmania. Scott Morrison announced a $92m package for hospitals on the Apple Isle last week, including nearly $35m to cut waiting lists.

Labor has previously announced $30m to cut elective surgery waiting lists in Tasmania.

Ms King has been a key lieutenant in Mr Shorten’s travelling election pack so far in the campaign and is expected to remain a central figure for the Labor campaign.