Fed: Rudd throws cash at premiers to win them over =2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2010
Fed: Rudd throws cash at premiers to win them over =2

Mr Rudd put on the table on Monday an extra $1.2 billion, including $150 million for
elective surgery infrastructure, $250 million to expand capacity at public hospital emergency
departments, and $827 million for more beds.

The elective surgery money would go towards elective surgery centres and day surgery centres.

The government also wants to free up hospital beds by delivering more funds to palliative,
rehabilitative, geriatric and mental health care services.

This is in addition to nearly $3 billion in sweeteners he offered states and territories
in the lead-up to the meeting.

However, they have to sign up to his GST plan if they want the extra money.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett acknowledged the federal government had been very generous.

"The commonwealth's been generous, that's been accepted," he told reporters.

"But there's still the two big issues to address."

Earlier Mr Barnett remained doubtful the impasse over the GST could be broken.

"Not unless the commonwealth agrees for the states to pay an equivalent amount of the
GST, rather than take the GST off the states," he told AAP.

"The potential showstopper is the GST."

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KEYWORD: HOSPITALS 2ND WRAP 2 CANBERRA

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