Deal and no deal on health overhaul

[Matilda]

"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has secured a deal with all states except Western Australia to become the dominant funder of Australian hospitals.

Mr Rudd has claimed the deal, which came after almost two days of talks at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, as a historic agreement for the nation and says there is now no need for a referendum."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/20/2878092.htm


I do think reform of hospital funding is necessary, especially here in
NSW, but that's one huge payout the Commonwealth is going to make
to ensure that it's viable.

I wonder how long before we have an increase in the GST to pay for it -
I can't see how it can be avoided.

[Esra Star]

1. The question is "what does good health care look like"

and what is it worth.
Your money or your life.

[Matilda]

2. Couldn't agree more,

but the cost is huge. I can't see how it can be funded in the future without a GST increase, and the Coalition will
play on people's fears of that. Look at how they're carping about debt, even though we have one of the lowest
rates per capita in the world, and the debt buildup kept us out of recession.

And consider how support for an ETS dropped when people realised that we will all have to pay something.

Politicians, both State and Federal, have campaigned for years on slogans of "no new taxes" and now they don't dare
implement any increases, even though it's unrealistic to suppose we can continue indefinitely as we are.

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. My partner is currently in hospital...

...and is a very sick woman, and while the service is fantastic in our little country hospital, I can see the improvement that still needs to be made in order for every Australian to receive valuable health care when needed. I don't know if Rudd's idea is the answer, but I pray it doesn't cause so much crap, that we end up losing already valuable beds and medical service in our hospitals across the country.