00:00After sounding the alarm for months about hospital funding, the Premier is now sounding
00:08a bit more optimistic.
00:09We're taking a really big step forward today, a really big step forward.
00:14A step forward after a lengthy standoff with Canberra.
00:17If you're asking me whether or not, I would have liked to have seen more, of course, and
00:21if you're asking me whether or not I'd fight for more in the future, you bet.
00:24We really did need the Federal Government to step up and support Queenslanders in our
00:29health system.
00:30The state says about a thousand long-stay patients in Queensland hospitals need to be
00:35in aged care, something that's been central to the funding fight.
00:40This isn't something that's emerged in the last two minutes in a long, long time.
00:43That was the issue when I was Health Minister as well.
00:46We have been talking about long-stay patients for some time.
00:49We know that we need to get older, longer-stay patients out of hospital rooms and into dedicated
00:55care.
00:56Doctors warn it's a challenge for our public hospital system.
01:00These are patients who've finished their medical care.
01:02They're well enough to go home, but they need some extra support.
01:06The willingness to work on that and the willingness for the Federal Government to say that is an
01:10important issue, combined with the extra funding today, shows a willingness to work together.
01:16It's understood of the extra $25 billion signed off for all states and territories.
01:22Queensland is expected to get somewhere between $5 billion and $6 billion.
01:27The pressure is on Queensland as well as all the states and territories to use that funding
01:31to the best possible advantage of our population.
01:39I'll see you soon.
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