Media Release

IN a joint statement released from the Tablelands, the Australian Party’s Leader Bob Katter and Candidate for Cook Lachlan Bensted have welcomed the return of more than $1 million for infrastructure works to the Mareeba Hospital by Queensland Health following intervention by the Federal Health Minister.

The Federal Member for Kennedy commenced discussions with the previous Commonwealth Health Minister last year on behalf of constituents concerned about the whereabouts of funding that the hospital was entitled to under a COAG initiative* to provide rural areas with better access to primary health care.

"Following those discussions, the Minister’s office has advised that the Commonwealth Department has now ensured that the outstanding COAG s19(2) exemption funding that was being withheld by Queensland Health’s Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District has finally been paid to Mareeba," said the Federal Member for Kennedy.

"The Minister’s office has also confirmed that our vital regional and remote primary health care services can no longer be held to ransom over this funding, because they have ensured a new written agreement (MoU) now explicitly mandates that funds earned on a site must be spent on a site.

"Previously, it was only assumed that funds earned on a site be returned to that site, creating a loophole that Queensland Health was exploiting to the detriment of the people of Mareeba, who rely on timely delivery of this funding for the much-needed enhancement of local primary health services and employment of clinical staff."

Australian Party Candidate for Cook and Mareeba resident Lachlan Bensted said local people had been very concerned about rumours that the funding could have been earmarked for re-direction to Atherton.

"We understand that two lots of $500,000 infrastructure works will now be carried out at the Mareeba Hospital as a result of this money being returned; and I join with other residents of Mareeba and the surrounding region – who know only too well of our ongoing battle to maintain and improve our access to vital local health services – in welcoming the Federal Government’s resolution of this matter," said Mr Bensted.

* Under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) section 19(2) exemptions initiative, states may access funds through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for eligible primary health care services rendered at eligible rural sites.