TO ATTACK a plan, one must offer an alternative.

This is exactly the tactic Victorian Premier John Brumby has just used to great effect on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Brumby stole the political initiative from Mr Rudd last week by announcing his own alternative to Mr Rudd's health plan.

It was a smart move by a premier known for his parochialism and stubbornness.

Mr Brumby's plan - to split funding 50-50 and retain control of the system with the states - has already forced a response from Mr Rudd.

On Monday, Mr Rudd announced a $739 million "sweetener" to try to get the states to come on board.

The money would go to aged care services, where it would support 5000 places.

Which is great, but unlikely to get the plan across the line.

The fact that Mr Rudd cannot get Labor premiers - particularly Mr Brumby - to fall into line on this issue is an ongoing embarrassment for him.

The positive aspect of having Labor in power nationally and in the states was supposed to be cooperation, and therefore results, from the different levels of government.

This has not been the case, as the health debate and the squabbling over water rights in the Murray-Darling basin have illustrated.

Politicians of all levels and beliefs should remember two simple things.

Voters want a better health system and they want pollies to stop whining and finger-pointing.

Meanwhile, Mr Brumby may be trumpeting about Victoria having the nation's best hospital system, but if this is so, it reflects terribly on the state of health care in the other states.

Hospitals across Victoria are seriously understaffed.

Access to good health care in rural Victoria is poor and waiting times unacceptable.

Australia's mental health system also needs more funding and for proactive rather than reactive tactics to be employed.

But that's another story.

The only thing currently saving Mr Rudd from being politically dismembered over the health issue is the Opposition's complete lack of policy on health.

The Libs have dropped the ball here because they offer criticism but no alternative.