Estimates Replies

National Partnership Agreements

In reply to Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (1 August 2016). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries): Funding provided by the commonwealth under a range of COAG National Partnership Agreements and Project Agreements has ensured that South Australians benefits from a wide variety of health programs.

In 2016-17 SA Health is currently managing 7 COAG agreements with revenue anticipated of around $51.3 million over the forward estimates (2016-17 to 2020-21).

I am disappointed by the commonwealth government's decision to cease funding across a range of COAG Agreements which provided funding for successful initiatives including:

Expired in 2013-14 and 2014-15

NPA on Improving Public Hospital Services—ongoing impact of $42.0 million per annum.

This agreement provided significant funding towards improving public patient access to elective surgery, emergency department and subacute care services.

NPA on Long Stay Older Patients—ongoing impact of $10.6 million per annum.

This agreement provided additional funding in recognition of older patients remaining in state public hospitals for longer than clinically required due to delays in accessing commonwealth funded aged care beds.

NPA on Preventive Health—ongoing impact of $3.9 million per annum

This agreement aimed to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term pressure on the health system by addressing the rising prevalence of lifestyle related chronic diseases.

NPA on Supporting National Mental Health Reform—ongoing impact of $3.4 million per annum.

With funding under this NPA, South Australia developed two programs—a walk-in community mental health service at Salisbury and an expansion of the assessment and crisis intervention service. The funding targeted people with a mental illness who needed to access stable accommodation and who frequently present to emergency departments, major hospitals and other support services.

Project Agreement on Teenage Sexual Health Services—ongoing impact of $1.2 million per annum.

This agreement supported the delivery of pre-pregnancy, antenatal, sexual and reproductive health services and programmes for young Indigenous Australians.

Project Agreement on the National Peri-natal Depression Initiative—ongoing impact of $0.6 million per annum.

Funding for this National Partnership Agreement was provided to improve the prevention and early detection of antenatal and postnatal depression and to provide better care, support and treatment for expectant and new mothers experiencing perinatal depression.

Agreement expired in 2015-16—subject to negotiation with the commonwealth government. No funding is currently reflected in the Department for Health and Ageing budget from 2016-17 (excluding rheumatic fever which has funding in 2016-17).

NPA on Adult Public Dental Services—ongoing impact of $12.5 million per annum.

This National Partnership Agreement contributed to the improved oral health of patients who are eligible for public dental services by providing treatment to an additional 177,778 adult public dental patients nationally.

Project Agreement on the Rheumatic Fever Strategy—ongoing impact of $0.4 million per annum.

This National Partnership Agreement was developed to improve detection, monitoring, and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

OzFoodNet Surveillance Program—ongoing impact of $0.2 million per annum.

Funding under this agreement provided for a national enhanced food-borne disease surveillance program.

Due to expire in 2016-17—These agreements will be the subject of future negotiations with the commonwealth government. No funding is currently reflected in the Department for Health and Ageing budget from 2017-18.

Project Agreement for the Expansion of BreastScreen Australia Program—ongoing impact of $1.3 million per annum.

This agreement provided funding to expand the BreastScreen Australia program to include women aged 70-74 years in the target group, and to screen at least an additional 222,000 aged 70-74 by 30 June 2017.

Project Agreement on Improving Trachoma Control Services for Indigenous Australians—ongoing impact of $1.0 million per annum.

This agreement provided funding to continue activities to reduce the incidence of trachoma and improve eye health for around 20,000 Indigenous Australians in up to 160 remote Indigenous communities across Australia.