“With his historical record of failed and wasteful project delivery, Mr Rudd is now asking the Australian public to support his health reforms, one of the most significant public policy decisions in our time,” Mr Humphries said.

“There has been no real or meaningful debate on this issue with policy direction being driven by Mr Rudd and his media machine at the expense of detail, legitimate clinical and community input.

“A previous litany of failures and a reluctance to revert to the greatest moral dilemma of our time according to Prime Minister Rudd is Climate Change and the Emissions Trading Scheme, who has now eyed health as the political driver in the lead up to the coming Federal election,” he said.

“Mr Rudd is picking a fight with the States on health, in particular, the NSW Labor Governments woeful management record in question, with the primary motive being Federal Labor distancing itself from NSW Labor.

“Federal Funding announcements to date have done nothing to engender confidence from the public, in fact, all it has done for the bush is create greater insecurity and anger at State Labor’s failed ability to manage health service delivery across the state,” Mr Humphries said.

“Both levels of the community, economic and social, should call for greater scrutiny on health service delivery.

“Of course the Federal Government needs to be involved in a long-term health plan, but they need to insist on greater State Government accountability first.

“With a far greater emphasis on localised control, responsibility and accountability, the NSW Liberals and Nationals will restore both clinical and community networks,” Mr Humphries said.