MP wants hospital equipment, not Disney

Labor MP Ed Husic has spoken out against the government spending almost $21.6m on a Disney film. Source: AAP

FEDERAL Labor MP Ed Husic admits to "raising an eyebrow" on hearing the government would spend $21.6 million on a Disney film, after he'd lobbied in vain for new equipment for his local hospital.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday announced the one-off payment to Walt Disney studios, which is remaking the science fiction classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Australia.

It would create 2000 jobs in the local film industry, the prime minister said.

But a bemused Mr Husic, whose western Sydney MP seat is under threat in an election year, said he had been trying to get an MRI for his local hospital at Mount Druitt "for ages".

"I have to say I raised my eyebrows yesterday when I saw that we were giving $20 million to the production," he told Sky News on Wednesday.

"I don't need 20,000 leagues of sea; I need an MRI at Mount Druitt Hospital."

Mr Husic is a supporter of former prime minister Kevin Rudd and resigned his position as deputy whip during last month's leadership spill triggered by the sacked frontbencher Simon Crean.

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NSW man in hospital after hay truck crash

A MAN who spent the night trapped in a crashed truck in NSW's west is recovering in hospital.

Police said the man, 64, was forced to spend the night in the cab of his truck, which was carrying hay, after it ran off an embankment near Lithgow at about 9pm (AEDT) on Tuesday.

The man, from Young, was found about 7.20am on Wednesday and airlifted to Liverpool Hospital, where he's being treated for leg injuries and hypothermia.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.

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Feds open to direct hospital funding

HEALTH Minister Tanya Plibersek says states other than Victoria may see federal funds paid directly to their hospitals.

Ms Plibersek on Wednesday night agreed to provide an extra $107 million to Victorian hospitals, saying the government could not stand by and watch Premier Ted Baillieu cut the state's health budget and put patient services at risk.

The Victorian coalition government says the change of heart is a short-term political fix and a "first step" in restoring the full $475 million in federal funding they say has been cut from the state's health budget over four years.

Ms Plibersek said the prime minister had written to other states and told them the federal government would be prepared to do the same if they play politics with health.

"If state governments are going to play politics with the health and safety of patients then there will be times when I need to step in," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

She said any funds would be taken from money a state government would already be eligible for under other programs.

In the case of Victoria, $55 million came from money set aside to go to that state if it brought its occupational health and safety laws into line with a national approach.

"If we have to do that in other states we are open to it but it's a redirection of their state funding to their hospital services," the minister said.

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