PM takes on Health reform but wont touch water reforms?

[Squawk]

This is what the Prime Minister had to say this morning with regard to his proposed health reforms:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/04/2836606.htm?site=thedrum
Rudd ready for combat over health reforms
By Lyndal Curtis

Kevin Rudd looks like he's playing to Plan B with his proposal for changing the way health funding operates in Australia.
He's not only expecting a fight with the premiers, he appears to be spoiling for one.
In just one interview this morning, on ABC Local Radio in Brisbane, he needed little encouragement to give the states a whack.
"We're going to have opposition from health bureaucrats, state health bureaucrats, state politicians across the country," he said.
"It's very easy to go out there and carp and complain and criticise. I believe system is at a tipping point.
"How unusual for a bunch of state politicians and state health ministers to get out and oppose a plan like this."
He used the interview to give some advice.
"I suggest that those who are out there just whingeing and moaning about it... they should basically get with the program," he said.
"They [the people] don't want a political brawl about who's responsible for what. what they want are solutions for the future.
"So if state health bureaucrats in NSW are out there opposing this, well can I just say that's very predictable. If state health bureaucrats in other states are out there opposing it, that's very predictable. I'm on about solutions, not just blaming somebody."(Read the full article at the link above).

Now, close your eyes for a moment and imagine if Kevin had in fact said this:

"We're going to have opposition from water bureaucrats, state water bureaucrats, state politicians across the country," he said.
"It's very easy to go out there and carp and complain and criticise. I believe system is at a tipping point.
"How unusual for a bunch of state politicians and state water ministers to get out and oppose a plan like this."
He used the interview to give some advice.
"I suggest that those who are out there just whingeing and moaning about it... they should basically get with the program," he said.
"They [the people] don't want a political brawl about who's responsible for what. what they want are solutions for the future.
"So if state water bureaucrats in NSW are out there opposing this, well can I just say that's very predictable. If state water bureaucrats in other states are out there opposing it, that's very predictable. I'm on about solutions, not just blaming somebody."

Is that too much to wish for?

[Squawk]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/05/2837941.htm

More of the same. If only it was water that Kevin was tackling.

New South Wales Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt has denied Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's claims that state bureaucrats are trying to sabotage his hospital reforms.

Earlier today Mr Rudd fired a shot towards his New South Wales colleagues amid reports his new blueprint could force the closure of over 100 hospitals in the state.

The reforms would see the Commonwealth take control of hospital funding, covering 60 per cent of costs by clawing back a third of GST revenue.

The funds would be administered by local authorities who would fund patients on a per-patient basis, described as "casemix".

The new funding formula has raised concerns that some regional hospitals that do not perform many procedures will miss out.

Mr Rudd today accused NSW bureaucrats and politicians of running a "fear campaign" and has told them to stop blocking reform.

But Ms Tebbutt says his accusations are unfounded.

"I had absolutely nothing to do, [and] my office had nothing to do with that information getting out into the public domain," she said.

"There is already information on our websites about hospitals that are funded through casemix funding that is activity-based funding.

"That list can be compiled by anyone getting onto the website and having a look at what hospitals are already funded through casemix funding and what hospitals aren't."


'Fear campaign'

Mr Rudd is refusing to back away from his tough talk to the states over federal hospital reforms, warning them it will go ahead regardless of their opposition.
While touring St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney today, Mr Rudd described the report as "absolutely untrue" and repeated his accusations that state bureaucrats were responsible for a "fantastic fear campaign".

"If you have state health bureaucrats running around the country, running a fear campaign about this reform plan for the future I think it speaks for itself," he said.

"These state health bureaucrats running a fear campaign, well, that's interesting. I think the thing the Australian people are really frightened of is the same state health bureaucrats running the system in the future."

State and territory leaders will meet at an April 11 COAG meeting where Mr Rudd says there will be a "huge amount [of] argy bargy".

"Some may tell us to jump in the lake but you know something, that will not stand in our road," he said.
"This is our proposal. This is our reform plan. We intend to get on with it."

Mr Rudd has vowed to take the changes to a referendum at the next election if the states do not back them.

He appears to have South Australia and Tasmania on side, with both states voicing enthusiastic approval for the blueprint.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett says he will be urging his counterparts to accept the changes.

"I'll be making my argument strongly there to my state counterparts and colleagues that we need to end the blame game with Canberra, that all states, all Australians will benefit if we do that," he said.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is pleased the Commonwealth is taking responsibility for funding but says she is wary of what powers the local networks will have.

"If that local decision-making ends up with a very, very fragmented system that would be a very, very bad outcome for patients," she said.

She also says per-patient funding may be bad for remote areas of Queensland.

"We need to make sure that the reality of service delivery in those places are incorporated in the funding model," she said.

NSW Premier Christina Keneally has written to Mr Rudd with a number of concerns.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Mr Rudd will not be able to deliver the proposal.

"If this was such a good plan, why is it that the state premiers are so lukewarm or in some cases absolutely outright hostile to it?" he said.

"This is a one-man band that can only concentrate on one tune at one time and I think it's high time that Kevin Rudd trusted his other ministers."

[smac]

Some may tell us to jump in the lake but you know something - we have none left.[/b]

Edited that line for accuracy and empathy to your thread.

Surprising that Kevin isn't banging on about water at the minute to help Mike along in the current campaign.

[Jimmy_041]

He appears to have South Australia and Tasmania on side, with both states voicing enthusiastic approval for the blueprint.

Let's see what Rann says if he is re-elected

[mick]

He appears to have South Australia and Tasmania on side, with both states voicing enthusiastic approval for the blueprint.

Let's see what Rann says if he is re-elected

O ye of little faith Jimmy! If Mike says he supports it then he does , he's a man of his word and his integrity is unchallenged If the GST has to go up to pay for Kev07-10's reforms he'll be a one termer for sure. Shame he's probably doing the right thing on this issue.