Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

We are continuing to negotiate in good faith with the states, and I think Australians do want the states and the Commonwealth to work together to improve hospitals and strengthen Medicare. We are on the record as indicating we have made an offer of an additional $20 billion in hospital funding for the states, on top of record funding this year. We want to work with the states to finalise the National Cabinet agreement that they signed up to in December 2023, and we have put a very serious offer on the table. An extra $20 billion over five years would bring the total Commonwealth funding to public hospitals expected over the new five years to a record $215 billion. We'll continue to negotiate in good faith. We will do our part—