Name: Governments fail to reach deal on aged care hospital bed crisis
Uploaded: 2025-12-12T06:15:57.089Z
Duration: 1 min 57 s
Description: Australian state and territory health ministers met with the federal government in Queensland to address hospital bed shortages for aged and disability care patients, but no agreement was reached. States are calling for increased federal funding to resolve the issue.

Australian state and territory health ministers met with the federal government in Queensland to address hospital bed shortages for aged and disability care patients, but no agreement was reached. States are calling for increased federal funding to resolve the issue.

Brisbane

Australian state and territory health ministers convened in Queensland with Federal Minister Mark Butler to address the issue of approximately 3,000 aged and disability care patients who remain in hospitals while awaiting long-term care placements. Despite recent federal funding offers, state leaders, particularly from Queensland, described the proposals as insufficient and are demanding billions more to alleviate hospital bed shortages.

The dispute stems from a 2023 National Cabinet Agreement, with states claiming they are still owed funds and expressing frustration over directives to curb spending. While negotiations continue, it remains unclear when a resolution will be reached, though a meeting involving the Prime Minister and state leaders may occur before the end of the year.

Governments fail to reach deal on aged care hospital bed crisis

Walking into the halls of power in the Sunshine State, hoping for a Christmas miracle. We are on a unity ticket in terms of what we need to see. State and Territory Health Ministers meeting with Federal Minister Mark Butler, trying to help 3,000 aged and disability care patients get into long-term care. Australians who are stuck in hospital waiting for federal aged care beds don't need to be in hospital. The Federal Government put an offer in just days ago, but states like Queensland have called for billions more to help clear the bed block. The offer is underwhelming and insufficient. The one reliable thing about Australian politics is that state governments ask for more money from the Commonwealth. We've got, at the moment, $33 billion additional funding. This afternoon the Ministers emerged from their meeting with no deal. This is ultimately about patients. This is ultimately about the thousands, millions of Australians who rely on our public hospitals. The issue stems back to a National Cabinet Agreement in 2023, where the Federal Government agreed to increase its hospital funding share. Last month, states were told to rein in spending to make sure the deal is honoured, which caused an outcry. The states say they're still waiting on millions from the original deal. The states remain at the bargaining table. We do want to negotiate and we're very happy to talk to the Commonwealth about what each state needs and what a reasonable contribution rate looks like. It's unclear when a deal could be struck, but Mark Butler has hinted that the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers could meet before the end of the year. I hope there'll be a meeting between now and Christmas that Premiers and Chief Ministers attend with the Prime Minister to crunch this through. Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls labelled the Prime Minister a grinch yesterday. Today there was a different tone. In the spirit of Christmas cheer, I think once is enough. Hoping cooler heads can prevail. Lawrence Jeffcoat, 10 News.

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