SOUTH Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has found an unlikely ally in Clive Palmer as he champions the states’ push to avoid $80 billion in federal cuts to schools and hospitals.
MR Weatherill came to Canberra on Thursday for talks with the Palmer United Party leader and to give evidence at a Senate committee about pressures on hospital funding.
Speaking after the meeting, the Labor premier said he was prepared to talk to anyone who was willing to stand up for the states. “We need to use every opportunity to resist these cuts,” Mr Weatherill said. “We are going to cause the maximum political pain so they change their position.” Mr Weatherill estimated that cut’s impact on his state as $655 million over four years. The Abbott government says school and hospital funding will still rise annually over the next decade but not at the same unaffordable rate as the former Labor government had slated. Mr Palmer said that as well as opposing the cuts, he would continue to stand against the proposed GP co-payment. He said there was no room for negotiation on the co-payment, despite Health Minister Peter Dutton insisting there was still a prospect the Senate cross bench would support his plan. “We both agree the co-payment is a drastic attack on the sick and elderly,” Mr Palmer said. Asked why he was not meeting Family First senator Bob Day, Mr Weatherill said the South Australian senator wanted the federal budget to “cut harder”. “He is an enemy of South Australia,” Mr Weatherill said.