Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Pocock, for the question. The Commonwealth has in fact increased its funding to the ACT hospital system by 16 per cent this financial year. It is one of the largest increases in Commonwealth funding to the ACT hospital system. More money for public hospitals will ensure that those hospitals are there to provide the world-leading care that Australians expect and deserve.

In this financial year, the ACT is expected to receive $629 million in Commonwealth funding. That increases the funding it was previously receiving by $85 million, and that includes two additional components: $35 million, which is a one-time funding contribution agreed by National Cabinet for all states and territories; and $50 million, which is the usual yearly growth in funding.

We do look forward to collaborating closely with colleagues in the ACT about delivering the very best health care for ACT residents that we can because we know how important health care is to Australians. Many of us heard Senator Wong speak this afternoon about the importance of health care and Medicare in particular to Australians. We had an extended discussion about this in the election campaign that has just been conducted. I think everyone in this chamber should have heard the very clear message that we received from our voters, our citizens, that they value health care.

So we are determined to work with our colleagues. We are determined to make sure that Australians can access the health care they require. We are very determined to make sure that we continue to build on Australia's incredible public health foundations which have laid a groundwork for a significantly more equal society that would have been the case if those opposite had their way on so many occasions when they sought to pull money out of that system.