2026-01-30
Ahead of today’s National Cabinet meeting, the Australian Greens call on the Albanese government to reach an agreement on hospital and NDIS funding.
It’s time to end the infighting and come to an agreement that ensures people can access the healthcare and disability supports they need.
A new deal must improve Commonwealth health funding and ensure that people who rely on support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme get the support they need.
Right now, we are seeing increases in ambulance ramping, public health waitlists and emergency departments across the country due to underfunding and understaffing.
The Greens are calling for the federal Labor government to:
- Commit to increasing the Federal Government’s share of public hospital funding to reach a fairer partnership with the states and territories.
- End the 6.5% growth cap, so that funding can keep up with community demand.
- Agree to a one-off investment to clear public surgery waitlists and backlogs.
- Not proceed with rollout of the Thriving Kids Program on the 1st July 2026.
Quotes attributed to Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Health, Disability Services and the NDIS
“Health funding is the core business of the government, and right now, political infighting and the Albanese Government’s penny pinching have left the future of the NDIS supports uncertain, and caused a crisis in our hospitals right across the country.
“Ambulance ramping, chronic understaffing, emergency department wait times and public surgery backlogs have spiralled out of control, which means poorer care for our community and more stress on nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers.
“No one should lose their health, or their access to disability supports, because State and Federal governments can’t agree on who pays for what.
“Every month, Western Australia sets a new ambulance ramping record. According to the Bureau of Health Information, as of May last year, 8,587 people in NSW waited longer than clinically recommended for surgery due to waitlist delays.
"Government spending is about choices, and this government has chosen to spend nearly half a trillion dollars in payouts to US weapons manufacturers while hospitals become more run down, healthcare workers burn out, and people’s NDIS supports are gutted.
“Enough is enough. I’d like to see the Federal Government lift their share of public hospital funding towards a fairer 50/50 partnership with states and territories. They need to remove the arbitrary growth cap and make a one-off investment to clear public surgery backlogs.
“The government is talking about delaying “Thriving Kids” and they should. This program is designed to stop children from accessing supports through the NDIS, yet no one can explain who will provide the alternative supports. I’ve been asking for months. There are still no answers. It’s simply not ready.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
- STEELE-JOHN - Dylan Eagles 0420 897 377