Tough budget decisions needed across government to save the hard gains made in health

Does this also include the bail out for the multi-million unauthorised DHR overspend that committed the government to spending more without budgetary approval, and the ‘horror show’ that is still under consideration by the Integrity Commission, or are we just forgetting that for now and putting the blame on NSW people?
It seems it’s too easy here just to fudge the books and put a gun to taxpayer’s heads afterwards and this announcement coming when all business cases for this year are finalised seems to warn Canberran’s that there is little left in the pot for other critical services. There is no excuse for a place as affluent as Canberra to be run like this, it will bite in a big big way when there is no money left.
I would rather they chuck a bucket of money at turning themselves into a fit for purpose modern government that doesn’t run itself like a servo shop lurching from one avoidable crisis to the next, and that includes the managerial skillset of the politicians and the head of service. Start now and lets see some improvement by the next election.

“But some of these chronic issues are not just the preserve of older people, as junk diets and lack of exercise leave many young people obese and facing diabetes and heart disease.”

It is ironic when previous Labor/Greens governments have made planning decisions that have seen Woden lose lawn bowling greens, a Pitch & Putt course, a basketball complex, tennis courts and a Ten-Pin Bowling complex. And next on the chopping block is the Phillip Pool. Well done Labor and the Greens you have turned Woden into an area that once had many recreational facilities into an area full of high-rise unit blocks with hardly any recreational facilities just when the population in that area has increased enormously over the past ten years. Congratulations!

Hospital care and casualty units are not the next gauge option! This idea is not a viable option. People could die, needlessly in the waiting room, while politicians zoom overhead in private jets.

Looking for funding, or an answer to the cost of living crisis, try taxing people who wouldn’t even get out of bed for less than what it would cost to run a hospital!

And since when have preventative screening and the right kind of early intervention been not the first priority?

Preventative medicine isn’t just a financially savvy answer to the budget problem, this types of things SAVE LIVES!

I strongly believe that all this economic “news” we are offered is for anyone’s benefit but for those who earn 7 or more figures a year.

These people hold money for status, while the rest of us consider who to take affordable health care away from? We are squabbling over scraps.

And this inflation stuff isn’t real. It’s just a construct inflicted on those of us who aren’t in the top 1 or 2%, who own half or so of Australia’s wealth.

These people have no compassion. Where’s all the money they squander even sits? In some kind of investment, no doubt.

The rich take money out of the economy to save and have holidays overseas. So why can’t we just print more? Inflation, no. It would devalue the top richest people in Australia.

Why has that terrible woman Gina going to stand up, off of her nest of money and sense of self importance to help us out.

You never know n ow Gina, you could need hospital too. And if they are understaffed that could mean a punched ticket.

Labor promised hundreds of extra health workers in the 2024 election campaign – they just forgot to include funding for that in the ACT Budget and that omission was not picked up in the pre-election budget update –

https://www.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/2572971/2024-Pre-Election-Budget-Update.pdf

What they’re doing now, with a disingenuous veneer of “imagine our surprise”, is what the majority of Canberrans voted for, and almost certainly would still have voted for if the fiscal facts of life had been revealed before election day.

There will be much more of this to come over the next four years, and today’s news about a freeze on non-essential hiring, while apparently a rude shock to some, is actually a sign that this government is finally starting to face up to reality and the difficult choices that involves.

Much of the increased demand is the result of previously denied, delayed or unmet demand leading to a need for more urgent and more extensive health treatment down the track.

Additionally there’s been an increase in e-bike and e-scooter injuries as well as more car crashes. All predictable for anyone who had been paying attention.

If ACT Health directorate recently wasted $66 millions paying wrong invoices, why they can’t just slap $227 million band-aid of taxpayer’s money to patch their suddenly appeared financial black hole?