Fed: Patterson tells states: sign first, talk later
Health Minister KAY PATTERSON says she's happy to discuss health reform with the states,but only after they sign the new health care agreement.
The states and commonwealth are at loggerheads over funding for public hospitals, withthe August the 31st deadline looming for the new agreement to be signed.
New South Wales Premier BOB CARR has urged the commonwealth to maintain its healthfunding for one year until a proposed shake-up of the system can be considered.
Senator PATTERSON says she's happy to discuss reform, but not when the agenda's beingdriven in a political way.
Mr CARR says the current agreement should remain in place on an interim basis for thenext year, so a new agreement can be hammered out.
She's told parliament that she won't discuss health reforms until the states sign thenew agreement.
AAP RTV sal/sb/rca/jas/rp
KEYWORD: HEALTH EXTEND (CANBERRA)
No comments:
Post a Comment