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Scott Morrison quizzed by kids on podcast

Prime Minister Scott Morrison may have skipped the Press Club, but he did manage to find time to answer questions from Australian kids for a podcast.

The prime minister answered questions posted to him by children on Squiz Kids, which is listened to by 140,000 parents and kids.

Spared questions about the deficit and foreign affairs, Mr Morrison was instead asked if he got in trouble at school.

READ MORE: The list Scott Morrison would rather wasn't read on TV

Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigning in Perth.

"I did my fair share of detention," he said.

"Many years ago, they used to give you the cane, and I got that once or twice as well."

He was also asked if everyone in his family was happy when he became prime minister.

"I think everyone was a bit surprised," he said, with a laugh.

"It happened all very suddenly."

READ MORE: How to vote in this year's election

Scott Morrison said many people who officially died of COVID-19 probably died of something else - something doctors dispute.

Podcast host Bryce Corbett said the questions reflect the interest kids are taking in the election.

"Our politicians are getting grilled every day on the campaign trail by professional journalists – but nothing gets an honest answer out of a politician like a question asked by a kid," Corbett said.

"The Squiz Kids audience tell it like it is, they're clearly not afraid to ask the tough questions."

The election is just four days away.

READ MORE: How do I vote if I have COVID-19?

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Queensland health minister responds to increased pressure on health system

Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath has addressed mounting pressure on the state's health system as some claim ambulances are forced to bypass at-capacity hospitals, leaving patients waiting up to hours for care.

Some Queenslanders have told 9News their loved ones were left waiting up to seven hours for an ambulance.

Paramedics have also spoken of their frustrations with the overloaded system, saying more needs to be done to get patients out of ambulance ramping queues and into hospital beds.

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Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath

READ MORE: 'A scene I will never ever forget': More Queenslanders call for fix to ramping crisis

"They're fed up (paramedics)," United Workers Union national ambulance coordinator Fiona Scanlon said.

"It's actually quite distressing for them as well.

"The health system has had significant issues since before COVID.

"Right now they need to find better ways to move patients through their hospital system."

Opposition leader David Crisafulli said Queensland had "reached a grave new chapter" claiming ambulances have been forced to by-pass the closest hospital due to overloaded emergency departments.

Ramping issues in hospitals are due to a lack of hospital beds to meet demand.

"Ambulance bypass is back in Queensland," he said.

"A process that we thought was behind us in Queensland is happening again."

Shadow minister for health Ros Bates said ambulance bypass had a "snowball effect" for other hospitals and health departments.

"Patients are going to die waiting for an ambulance to turn up, patients could well die while they're being redirected from hospital to hospital and patients will die on the ramp," she said.

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D'Ath said while the pressures and issues facing the health system are not new, they are exacerbated by the rise in COVID-19 patients, isolating health professionals and now, the threat of an influenza wave.

She said health care demand was rising year by year and an overhaul of the public health system would not happen "overnight," calling on the federal government to match state health funding to increase hospital capacity.

"Our hospitals are full," she said. 

"We cannot do this alone. The fact is that we need investment in Commonwealth health funding, funding in aged care NDIS, private health insurance, and we need more support for GPs.

"This is not about shifting responsibility its about sharing responsibility."

READ MORE: The list Scott Morrison would rather wasn't read on TV

She said there were currently 520 "long stay" patients in Queensland Hospitals who should be receiving care from an aged care package or the NDIS.

There are an additional 462 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across the state.

The incoming flu season is also set to increase pressure on hospitals over the Winter period, with several already hospitalised with the dominant flu strain, influenza A.

D'Ath said a lack of GP's was also contributing to demand on the hospital system, with patients turning to hospitals when doctors appointments aren't available.

She added Medicare rebates had been frozen for medical professionals for over a decade, with less people choosing to pursue careers in general practice.

"The pressures on our public system are just as much from the primary and allied health care failings," D'Ath said.

"These demand pressures have caused the public health system in Queensland to become the provider of last resort."

D'Ath said the state had poured a record amount of funding into health care last year but real change was dependent on the Commonwealth.

She said despite the addition of 351 new hospital beds and $63 million in funding, demand for hospitals was increasing.