Peak community, health and education groups call on the Federal government to forge an agreement with the states and territories at the COAG meeting taking place on Friday.
The groups include ACOSS, Consumers Health Forum, the Australian Education Union, the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition.
The groups said they want to see the funding for public hospitals that was taken out of the National Health Reform Agreement restored, and a commitment to fund the full six years of needs based education as proposed by the independent Gonski Review.
In a united call, the groups highlighted the need for the Commonwealth to cooperate with states and territories in areas of shared responsibility.
ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said, “The current funding deficit must be addressed at this week’s meeting. The states and territories, who are responsible for delivering these services simply do not have the capacity to plug the gap,”
“Ultimately, the Commonwealth must work constructively with the states and territories to guarantee stable and adequate funding into the future for the universal services that we all want as a community.
“We must not squander the opportunity to deliver revenue growth through fair tax reform. The future of services depends upon it.”
Consumers Health Forum CEO Leanne Wells said, “The restoration of health funding is a critical first step,”
“We must invest in new models of integrated care and in primary health care-led health reform. This will deliver better health outcomes and a more efficient and effective health system.”
Public Health Association of Australia CEO Michael Moore said, “The worst affected by the failure to adequately fund healthcare services are socioeconomically disadvantaged groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people in rural and remote communities, who have difficulty accessing medical and other health services already.
“We know equitable education and good health care help address inequity – let’s make it happen.”