Thursday 18 June 2009
HEALTH HAD $646.6 MILLION EXPENSES BLOWOUT, DELLA BOSCA SAYS “PRETTY WELL IN THE BLACK”
Health Minister John Della Bosca has described the $646.6 million Health budget expenses blowout as “pretty well in the black”, proving he is either so clueless he doesn’t know how to read his own budget papers, or so engrossed in his own spin he’s lost touch with reality, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said today.
Budget Paper No. 3 – Volume 2 page 13 – 30 clearly shows Health’s operating expenses were budgeted at $13.150 billion in 2008/09, but over the course of last year costs blew out by $646.6 million to $13.797 billion (see attached page).
“Health Minister John Della Bosca is either so clueless that he doesn’t know how to read his own budget papers, or so engrossed in his own spin he’s completely lost touch with reality,” Mrs Skinner said.
“People are sick and tired of politicians like John Della Bosca trying to tell them black is white which is nothing more than Labor spin,” she said.
This is what John Della Bosca said when asked by Andrew Moore on 2GB about the health budget deficit:
“I have to say I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve managed to land to health budget for this year in just 7 months at um, you know, pretty well in the black. So, look I’m pretty happy with that.”
“This is the man who Labor insiders claim wanted to be Treasurer. Last year’s health budget blowout was one of the biggest on record, but due to Labor’s incompetence and waste, it won’t be the last.
“If John Della Bosca doesn’t recognise a $646.6 million budget blowout it’s little wonder medical workers hold little hope that he’ll fix the problems in the health system.
“When John Della Bosca says he’s ‘very proud’ of a $646.6 million cost blowout in the health budget you know Labor’s completely lost touch.
“Unlike Labor, the NSW Liberal/Nationals are focused on real solutions, not spin.
“The NSW Liberal/Nationals have positive practical plans to fix the health system, by abolishing Labor’s inefficient Area Health Services and establishing community led Health Districts,” Mrs Skinner said.