Patching the system: what the 2026 budget won't fix

Australia spends billions managing the consequences of a fragmented health system while comparable countries collect the gas revenue we leave on the table. Health economist Luke Slawomirski on the 2026 budget, the PHI rebate, and what a serious reform agenda would actually look like. Guest: Dr Luke Slawomirski, Health Economist at the Australia Institute.Chapters(00:00) - Intro(01:10) - The patch budget: trims, not structural reform(03:46) - How health systems fail: unevenly, not all at once(06:59) - A 25% gas export levy and the revenue problem(10:42) - Single purchaser: why Taiwan works and we don't(17:05) - The PHI rebate: regional reliance, bad targeting(24:42) - Why prevention keeps losing to acute care politics(29:41) - Where the next $3 billion should go on prevention--Follow the show:- Instagram- YouTubeHealth Matters is an Amplieo Original podcast produced by Amplieo Media Group and presented by Catholic Health Australia.Subscribe to Amplieo+ to unlock members-only content for the show.Learn more about Amplieo ➡️ https://www.amplieo.com