WA:WA likely to agree to fed health reforms

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2011
WA:WA likely to agree to fed health reforms

The West Australian premier says he's likely to agree to the federal government's amended
hospital reforms .. after a claw back of the state's GST was dropped from the package.

COLIN BARNETT was the only premier not to sign up to the health and hospital reforms
spearheaded by then prime minister KEVIN RUDD last year .. which required the states to
hand over part of their GST revenue.

But today JULIA GILLARD's announced a new deal allowing the states to keep their GST
revenue but to fund 50 per cent of the extra costs of their health systems.

As part of the deal the prime minister's proposed a single national pool for federal
.. state and territory funding.

But Mr BARNETT wants assurances that WA's share will only go to the state's own patients
and hospitals.

AAP RTV jsj/tm

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS WA (PERTH)

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