The Liberals went to the last election promising no cuts to health and then inflicted savage cuts to South Australias hospitals. This election Malcolm Turnbull has promised he wont dismantle Medicare and his promise is just as believable.
In contrast, patients in Boothby and Hindmarsh will benefit under a Shorten Labor Governments increased investment in Flinders Medical Centre.
Labor will restore the National Health Reform Agreement for four years. Labor will also provide additional support to South Australia and other states to reduce waiting times for elective surgery and in emergency departments.
This will boost nationwide hospital funding by $2 billion more than the Liberals over the next four years. While state shares will depend on activity levels and future negotiations, South Australia can expect to receive around $140 million more under Labor.
This will mean reduced hospital waiting times, more beds, and more doctors and nurses in hospitals like Flinders.
Labor created Medicare. Only Labor will protect it
Labor will also protect penalty rates for the hard-working staff at Flinders Medical Centre, and all Australians.
We know that at least 60 members of Malcolm Turnbull's team want to cut penalty rates. And Nick Xenophon and his running mate Stirling Griff have spoken repeatedly about cutting penalty rates - even if theyre backing away from it now.
Nurses at Flinders and around Australia work hard for modest pay. Malcolm Turnbull and Nick Xenophon's attacks on penalty rates would cut their pay, jeopardising their ability to provide vital services.
That's why Labor will protect penalty rates for all Australians.
Labor has already taken the unprecedented step of making a submission in support of penalty rates to the Fair Work Commission. A Shorten Labor Government will intervene in proceedings to make a further submission to the Fair Work Commission, reinforcing the importance of retaining penalty rates.
Only Labor will invest in hospitals like Flinders Medical Centre, and protect penalty rates for all Australians.