Wayne Swan’s 2010-2011 budget has been hailed of one of no thrills, frills, or spills. It is a conservative budget which manages to deliver on some long overdue election promises in regards to health reform. It outlines the road for Australia to return to a national surplus by 2013, which if the predictions are correct, will be an amazing recovery from the global financial crisis..
I’m sure we are all glad to see an extra 2.2 billion dollars directed to the health industry, in addition to the recently announced 5.1 billion top up of hospital funding. This funding includes:
- $417m to increase after-hours access to doctors
- $355m for 23 GP super clinics
- $390m for more nurses in GP clinics
- $60m for aged care nurses
- $69m for rural nurses
- $467m for electronic health records
- $400m to lift hospital performance
It is unfortunate that no extra funding has been allocated to mental health. There is an ever growing need for increased support and services in most areas of our community, and the push by the federal government to increase health services should recognize this.
