Premiers in talks on federal budget cuts

State and territory leaders will gather in Sydney on Sunday to discuss plans to fight federal budget cuts to schools and hospitals.

baird_140517_AAP.jpg

NSW Premier Mike Baird (AAP)

Angry state and territory leaders will meet in Sydney on Sunday to forge battle plans against what they describe as the federal government's "deeply unfair" cuts.

NSW Premier Mike Baird will host the meeting, but it will be chaired by the head of the Council for the Australian Federation, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman.

The federal budget delivered on Tuesday night included $80 billion in savings over 10 years by dumping school and hospital deals struck with the previous Labor government.

"The announcements made in the commonwealth's budget are deeply unfair, and the states are determined to fight to ensure the long term sustainability of our finances," Mr Baird told AAP.

"Sunday's meeting will give premiers from around the country an opportunity to discuss our collective concerns."

While the Council of Australian Governments meeting two weeks ago agreed to work on reviews of the federation and tax arrangements, there was no mention of the funding cuts.

The leaders have also sought individual meetings with Prime Minister Tony Abbott to discuss the impact on their state and territory budgets.

The federal budget wound back the rate of rises in school funding from 2018 and hospital funding from 2017/18.

It also removed funding guarantees for public hospitals and reduced or ended other payments, such as the national agreements on preventative health.


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Source: AAP


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