Australia's leaders reach agreement on health reform

Louise Yaxley, Canberra

Last Updated: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 07:28:00 +1100

State and territory leaders have signed up to the Australian Prime Minister's health deal after a lengthy meeting of the Council of Australian Governments.

Julia Gillard says the deal will provide more hospital beds and more community control.

Ms Gillard says they have backed her plan for the State and Commonwealth Governments to share the growing cost of health and for a national funding pool to the check on the spending.

She says that will end the blame game, but there is still more to do.

The Opposition's Health Spokesman Peter Dutton says that means it's not a proper deal yet.

"And the devil is going to be in the detail," he said.

But South Australia's Premier, Mike Rann, calls it a breakthrough.

"After years and years of argy-bargy we've now got the Federal Government, the states and the territories on the same page on health," he said.

Ms Gillard hopes to finalise the deal by mid-year.

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