Replying to a suggestion that voters might prefer higher hospital and education funding over tax cuts, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull claimed the Government was spending "record amounts" on hospitals and health. Mr Turnbull's claim is a fair call. Spending on health was higher in 2016-17 than in any other year since at least 1985-86. The final budget outcome is not yet available for 2017-18, but on the most recent estimate spending on health was higher again. However, that year's health funding was boosted by a number of one-off items in the budget. Then, in 2018-19, the financial year now underway, the most recent estimate shows health spending will decrease slightly from the previous year. Looking at this term of office overall, spending in each of the three years on health is or is estimated to be higher than the previous record set in 2015-16. The picture is similar for public hospitals: higher spending in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 ' including the retrospective adjustment ' and then a dip forecast for 2018-19. However, the later numbers are only estimates and, as the adjustment in 2017-18 shows, they are open to change. One expert told Fact Check that the budget figures might be underestimates, and noted that spending on Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is not under the Government's control, but depends on patient demand. Taking into account differences in how the various data sources report spending, Mr Turnbull can justifiably say federal spending on both health and hospitals was expected to reach a fresh peak around the time he made the claim.
Verdict: Fair Call