Record on health — pushed Coalition to the edge of oblivion

Queensland health minister Cameron Dick says of the 2016 federal election’s most potent themes, the Coalition’s record on health became the central issue that pushed Malcolm Turnbull and his government to the edge of oblivion.

And what’s also clear is the suspicion the public has for the LNP on health policy did not develop overnight, to be summonsed on election day by text message.

As Malcolm Turnbull himself has admitted, Labor’s Medicare campaign resonated because it fell on the “fertile ground,” made ready by Tony Abbott’s cuts to public hospitals and healthcare.

They see our hospitals delivering results. Queenslanders want that to continue.

Malcolm Turnbull can thank Bill Shorten and federal Labor, and state governments, for an unyielding campaign to expose the truth of these cuts.

And it wasn’t just Labor governments either. When Premier Palaszczuk went in to battle for Queensland hospitals, the NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird was riding shotgun, making her message powerfully bipartisan.

Through marginal seats up and down the Queensland coast, we worked closely with the Shorten campaign to ensure our federal candidates had targeted information about the effects of these cuts on their local hospitals.

The message took root in our state and across the nation not just because of federal Labor’s strong campaign, but because Australians greatly value their public health system.

In Queensland they see our hospitals delivering results. Queenslanders want that to continue.

Since coming to government last year, the Palaszczuk Labor government has cut elective surgery wait lists. We’ve introduced nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure our wards are properly staffed by nurses and we’re restoring mental health services after years of health cuts by former state LNP Treasurer and now Opposition leader Tim Nicholls.

All of this is at risk if the Turnbull government doesn’t properly fund our health system.

For the first time in Queensland’s history, we’re finally tackling the “wait list for the wait list” — focusing on the 100,000 Queenslanders whom the LNP left waiting for appointments with specialists.

Through My Health, Queensland’s Future: Advancing Health 2026, we’re delivering a 10-year plan to shape the health system we need for the growing health challenges of ageing, obesity and chronic disease.

But all of this is at risk if the Turnbull government doesn’t get on board and properly fund our health system.

If Malcolm Turnbull still hasn’t heard the message, let me spell it out for him.

We need Malcolm Turnbull and the federal Coalition to urgently re-commit to the National Health Reform Agreement — 50 per cent of efficient growth, without arbitrary caps that limit our ability to meet population growth.

We need him back at the table, negotiating new national partnerships to reform the system and keep people healthy with new funding for preventative health, mental health and dental care.

And we need him to end the Medicare rebate freeze so Queenslanders can afford to visit their local doctor, instead of clogging state public hospital emergency departments with minor complaints.

We are exposing Tim Nicholls for the cuts to health care he made as Treasurer.

There’s a message for the state LNP too — Queenslanders value their public health system.

Just like we did with Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, we are exposing Tim Nicholls for the cuts to health care he made as Treasurer.

Queenslanders remember his record, sacking 1800 nurses and midwives, attacking doctors and cutting mental health funding, yet finding billions to spend on his new office and a pay rise for himself.

Until he acknowledges his record and apologises to Queenslanders, I believe the people of our state will reject his anti-health austerity agenda, just like they rejected Malcolm Turnbull and the federal Coalition.

This article originally appeared in the Labor Herald.