AMA (NSW) Vice President Dr Kathryn Austin on Today Extra on Nine answering questions about the NSW Inquiry into Birth Trauma.
September 6, 2023Reference List for NSW Doctor September/October 2023 Edition
September 25, 2023
AMA (NSW) President Dr Michael Bonning said this is a disappointing budget. “At a time when the health sector and medical services need an urgent investment of cash, this budget provides almost nothing. Traditionally governments increase health investment, this government has effectively slashed it, when health inflation is taken into consideration.’’
Dr Bonning said “This year’s budget of $30,951 billion is a 0.87% percentage increase on the $30,684 billion in the 2022 – 23 budget.
“This paltry increase is negligible and will be overtaken by health inflation, which is expected to increase by at least 5% per year.
“It is the people of NSW who will suffer. This means less access to emergency departments, less urgent surgery and non-urgent surgery and it will also place NSW’s innovative programs such as the collaborative care projects at risk.
“In comparison – the Queensland Government this year increased its health budget by 9.6% while NSW couldn’t even commit to a 1% increase.” Dr Bonning said.
Contrary to the Labor election promise that the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding would cost $15.7 million, AMA economic analysis of the budget has indicated it will in fact cost around $100 million over a two-year period. This “Commission of Cuts” is a further insult at a time in which investment in health, not expensive reviews are what the doctor orders.
On other budget matters, we expect that the NSW payroll tax practice note will act in the same way as recently announced in Queensland i.e., that it will not apply to usual independent contractor arrangements for GPs.
This comes at a time when health funding is desperately needed. Demand for NSW hospital services climb each quarter. According to the Bureau of Health Information report from the April to June quarter.
• ED presentations: 770,654 presentations – a return to the highest pre-pandemic levels
• Non-urgent Surgery waiting list: 94,238 at the end of June 2023, a return to the highest pre-pandemic levels
• Admitted patients: 483,500 – a continued increase from last year.
Media contact: 0419 402 955 | news@amansw.com.au