National cabinet backs whole-of-system reforms to ease health system pressures, makes GST breakthrough

‘Working better together’ has been the unifying theme of the latest meeting of state and territory premiers and first ministers, which was preceded by a meeting of first secretaries.

Under an agreement struck by the national cabinet on Wednesday, $1.2 billion will flow to urgently support Australian hospitals.

This includes a commitment to fulfil the recommendations of the Independent Review of Health Practitioner Regulatory Settings (Kruk Review) with shared funding and implementation responsibilities between the commonwealth, states and territories.

Additional money will be invested in Medicare urgent care clinics, and measures to prevent older patients from needing to be admitted to hospital admission, as well as support their earlier discharge from hospital.