Federal Financial Relations (National Health Reform Payments for 2020-21) Determination 2022

This is a money distribution notice from the federal government to the states and territories for hospital and health funding.

What it does:

• Authorises $26.66 billion in federal health funding to be paid to the eight states and territories for the 2020-21 financial year
• This money is paid under the National Health Reform Agreement — the deal between Canberra and the states about who pays for what in public hospitals

Who gets what: | State/Territory | Amount | |----------------|--------| | New South Wales | $8.16 billion | | Victoria | $6.94 billion | | Queensland | $5.72 billion | | Western Australia | $2.74 billion | | South Australia | $1.70 billion | | Tasmania | $540 million | | ACT | $487 million | | Northern Territory | $368 million |

Why it matters: Public hospitals are run by states but jointly funded. This determination locks in the Commonwealth's contribution for 2020-21. Without this instrument, the money can't legally flow. It's essentially the Treasurer signing the cheque after the numbers have been negotiated through the National Health Reform Agreement process.

Key point: This doesn't change the rules — it just executes a payment already agreed under existing law (the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009).