• A is correct: State governments have primary responsibility for public hospitals and mental health facilities.

Other Options:

• B is incorrect: Local governments have limited health responsibilities.
• C is incorrect: Federal government funds but doesn’t directly operate hospitals.
• D is incorrect: NGOs supplement but don’t have primary responsibility.

• Commonwealth Government has primary responsibility for health policy development and major funding programs. They manage Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for all Australians. Commonwealth also oversees health legislation and operates repatriation hospitals for veterans.
• State and Territory Governments are responsible for delivering most direct health services to communities. They operate public hospitals, mental health services, and ambulance services. States also manage dental health programs and many health promotion initiatives.
• Local Government focuses on community-level health services and environmental health regulation. They operate early childhood health centres and sexual health clinics. Local councils also manage waste disposal and food safety regulations.

• Governments prioritise health issues because limited healthcare resources must be allocated effectively to achieve maximum population health benefits. Due to competing demands for funding across multiple health areas and priority populations, strategic decision-making becomes essential.
• Consequently, prioritisation ensures resources target conditions causing the highest mortality and morbidity rates, such as coronary heart disease, dementia and cancer. This leads to evidence-based decision-making that focuses on preventable diseases where early intervention can reduce long-term healthcare costs.
• Therefore, priority health issues receive dedicated funding for research, prevention programs and treatment services. The underlying reason is that populations experiencing health inequities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and rural communities, obtain targeted support addressing their specific health challenges.
• This demonstrates why systematic prioritisation maximises health outcomes by directing resources where they can create the greatest positive impact for Australian communities.

• Australia’s public healthcare system provides universal access to essential medical services regardless of individual financial capacity. Medicare ensures all citizens receive subsidised general practitioner consultations, with many services available through bulk billing arrangements that eliminate patient costs entirely.
• The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reduces medication expenses significantly, making prescription drugs affordable for chronic condition management. Public hospitals deliver emergency care and essential surgical procedures without direct patient charges, ensuring life-saving treatments remain accessible.
• This system promotes health equity by removing financial barriers that might prevent timely medical intervention, supporting better population health outcomes across all socioeconomic groups.