Vic govt wants health funding back

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews will be hoping for a softening of the former Abbott government's harsh funding cuts when COAG meets on Friday.

Joe Hockey's federal budget in May scrapped $17.7 billion over 10 years from Victoria's health system.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday the cuts were "unsustainable" and he hoped the federal and state governments could come to a constructive healthcare agreement.

"Patients will suffer, indeed patients will die if the federal government is intending to take the best part of $71 billion (nationally) out of the hands of our doctors and nurses, and take that money away from patient care," he told reporters.

The Turnbull government's agenda for Friday will focus on the GST and other economic reforms.

But Mr Andrews said healthcare funding would be his priority.

The premier will also discuss the Western Distributor business case with the federal government. Victoria is seeking a substantial contribution for the $5.5 billion road project.

Mr Andrews said he would also discuss family violence, the ice epidemic and terrorism.

In a later interview, Mr Andrews restated his opposition to increasing the GST but would not stand in the way if the federal government took the plan to an election and won.

"If a federal government of any political persuasion were to take to the Australian people a plan to increase the GST, I would not block that if they were successful, he told Sky News.