Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Ged Kearney has visited Milton Hospital to speak with nurses and medical staff about the impact of health and Medicare funding cuts.
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The ACTU has warned that the Turnbull government’s $57 billion cuts to health funding and Medicare policies compromise care and put patient health at risk.
“Often it’s regional hospitals that suffer the most when there are cuts to hospital funding,” Ms Kearney said.
Nurses in the electorate of Gilmore have asked candidates to sign a pledge committing to support funding for hospitals and aged care, upholding penalty rates and ending speculation on the future of Medicare.
Labor and Greens candidates have agreed to sign the pledge, with the only major party hold-out Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis.
“We have asked all candidates to support the pledge but Ann won’t sign,” NSW Nurses and Midwives Association organiser Mark Murphy said.
“They [the Liberal Party] are saying Medicare won’t be privatised but they won’t sign the pledge.
“Gilmore is one of the 12 marginal electorates we know will be pivotal to the future of the nation if we move the sitting member.”
Despite having not yet signed the pledge Mrs Sudmalis said the Coalition had increased aged care funding and have no intention of privatising Medicare.
“Since the 2013-14 budget which was the last Labor budget we have increased aged care funding by 25.5 per cent,” Ms Sudmalis said.
“We have given an unequivocal answer that nothing will happen with Medicare.”
Mrs Sudmalis maintained the Coalition would adhere to a ruling by the Fair Work Commission on the future of penalty rates, “Penalty rates are by the tribunal and we have no say in that. Whatever the tribunal says I will run with.”
It’s a stance agreed upon by Labor, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten noting he will accept the decision of the Fair Work Commission, even if the commission opts to reduce them.
