The Weatherill Labor Government has begun the budget blame game by using the recent Federal Budget in an attempt to cover up 12 years of its own financial mismanagement of the South Australian health budget.
“South Australians don’t be fooled – the budget blame game has begun and will continue until the State Budget is delivered in 23 days’ time,” said Shadow Health Minister Rob Lucas.
“It’s the height of hypocrisy for the Weatherill Labor Government to attack the Federal Government when the Weatherill Labor Government is cutting $1,033 million out of its own health budget.
“The Weatherill Labor Government is currently in the process of cutting hundreds of nursing positions as part of its plans to cut about 1900 full-time jobs from SA Health.
“These cuts have nothing to do with the Federal Government – this is all the work of the Weatherill Labor Government.
“As much as the Weatherill Labor Government will try and blame Canberra for everything, State Labor has committed to cutting $1,033 out of its own health budget, because of 12 years of financial mismanagement.”
When questioned on ABC radio about his own Budget, Mr Weatherill revealed he would not back down on his cuts:
Presenter: “Will you suspend your billion dollar’ worth of cuts to health in light of the $600m federal cuts to the SA health system?”
Weatherill: “No” (891ABC, 19/05/14)
“The State Liberals have already indicated we don’t support the Federal cuts to health but we also don’t support the even bigger Weatherill Government cuts to health,” said Mr Lucas.
“Mr Weatherill and his Labor Government are trying to conceal their own already announced savage budget cuts to health by trying to blame the Federal Government’s budget.
“South Australians don’t be fooled.”