At the July 2006 Council of Australian Government's meeting, the Commonwealth committed over $200 million for a health workforce package.
This included a Commonwealth offer to provide capital funding for the University of New England (UNE) to enable them to build a medical school. The Commonwealth's offer was for $3 million subject to the New South Wales Government providing a matching $3 million.
Premier Iemma has now written to me advising that NSW will not be matching the Commonwealth's funding.
This is extremely disappointing for the UNE and for the residents of NSW who deserve a sustainable health workforce and may put the medical school places which the Commonwealth agreed to provide the UNE in jeopardy.
Premier Iemma himself acknowledges the value of the UNE proposal and accepts that UNE