What we learned; Wednesday 1 March
And with that, it is time for us to put the blog to bed. Thank you so much for spending your day with us.
Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
December quarter GDP expanded by a slower-than-expected 0.5%, while January’s consumer prices rose 7.4% year-on-year – pointing to a slowdown in recent price rises.
While the treasurer Jim Chalmers hailed the GDP figures as stronger than all of the G7, he warned the year ahead is “even more unpredictable” than 2022.
Anthony Albanese ruled out changes to capital gains concessions on family homes as the Coalition continued its attacks on Labor’s planned changes to how superannuation is taxed.
The federal government said Peter Dutton’s comments on what submarines Australia would favour ahead of an impending Aukus announcement were “incredibly irresponsible”.
The opposition leader backed Liberal moderate Bridget Archer to stay with the party following reports she may face a preselection push.
And ABC staff have voted to take protected industrial action for the first time in 17 years over what they say is a poor pay offer from ABC management.
Updated
Queensland public hospital waiting times blow out
From AAP:
The number of Queensland patients waiting longer than clinically recommended to see a specialist in public hospitals has surged more than 80% to 104,000 in a year, according to the state’s auditor general.
The Queensland Audit Office also revealed ambulances lost 134,155 hours waiting to transfer patients into hospitals in 2021/22, a rise of more than 20% over the previous year.
Auditor general Brendan Worrall’s report revealed outpatient services and ambulances are being hampered because the health system had reduced capacity to meet growing demand.
Worrall said the rising demand is due to Queensland having the fastest population growth in the nation, an ageing population, an increase in complex emergency presentations and mental health conditions and the impacts of Covid-19.
The health minister, Yvette D’Ath, indicated the suspension of elective surgeries by national cabinet in 2020 and Covid-19’s impact contributed to delays in specialist wait times.
“We are investing significantly to lift up that recovery,” she said on Wednesday.
Updated
