Premier Cook to attend national cabinet to find breakthrough in negotiations over hospital funding agreements

Premier Roger Cook will this week travel to Sydney where a national cabinet meeting will attempt to break a deadlock in negotiations over hospital funding agreements. Mr Cook will be among the State and Territory leaders who will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday in a bid to finalise a hospital and disability funding deal, with NDIS reforms and the National Health Reform Agreement to be settled. The Federal Government on Sunday revealed it had put forward an additional $23 billion in funding, including an additional $2 billion to address long-stay older patients to improve discharges, care transitions and build more aged care beds. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said governments had been “stuck in trench warfare playing the blame game on hospital funding” for “too long”. “This infuriates Australians when all they want is to make sure they don’t spend hours ramped in an ambulance or waiting in an overcrowded emergency department,” he said. “The Commonwealth has put a very generous offer on the table to secure hospital funding, the future of the NDIS and keep older Australians out of hospital. “We are prepared to negotiate in good faith with the other states.” The State Government wants Canberra to increase its funding contribution to 42.5 per cent by 2030 — an agreement made by national cabinet in 2023. Last’s year offer was rejected because it did not meet WA’s mounting hospital demand, a State Government spokesperson said. “A sustainable and effective NDIS is in everyone’s interests,” the spokesperson told The West. “Following negotiations late last year, WA, along with all other States and Territories, rejected a Commonwealth offer as it was not sufficient and did not meet the parameters agreed to in 2023. “That offer did not address the growing pressure and demand felt by our hospitals and the dedicated workforce who care for Australians every day.” “We continue to engage with the Commonwealth Government, disability sector and community on ensuring this program will deliver for WA children and families.”