Hunt rejects fund plea by peak health groups

Peak health groups say they are struggling to provide adequate policy advice ahead of the federal ­election.

Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: AAP

Health Minister Greg Hunt has knocked back a request for more funding from 14 peak health groups that say they are struggling to provide adequate policy advice ahead of the federal ­election.

As the Coalition government finalises its April 2 budget, Mr Hunt has told the groups that while he appreciates their “valued impartial advice”, he cannot lift a funding freeze set in place until 2022.

The groups — including the Consumers Health Forum, the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia — told Mr Hunt the freeze “will result in a cumulative real ­reduction in the vicinity of 16 per cent”.

“In a sector where resources are extremely scarce, this real reduction cannot result in anything other than a reduction in service and capacity for the important work we do in policy development and the provision of advice to government,” they wrote on December 18.

Mr Hunt advised the groups there would be no changes to the funding arrangements for the Health Peaks and Advisory Bodies Program allocations announced in November.

“I note your concerns about financial pressures for your ­organisations and I have carefully considered your request for indexation,” he replied on Jan­uary 14.

“Regrettably, funding under the HPAB program is fully committed to 2021-22, therefore I’m unable to agree to further funding at this time.”

The current HPAB program allocations provide $23.5 million in funding over three years for 23 groups.

Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King last night questioned the government’s motivation in “ripping millions of dollars away from some of Australia’s most important and respected health peak bodies”.

“The minister says these organisations ‘are integral to building a better healthcare system for the nation’,” she said.

“So then why is he slashing their funding? He says their voice is important but he seems determined to silence that voice.”