Health Minister Guy Barnett has refused to rule out further health cuts in the upcoming budget in a radio performance with ABC Mornings that he probably wants back.
Tasmania’s health system is already stretched to the limit. We already know it will be strained further by the government’s $300 million efficiency dividend, but the Minister is refusing to tell us by how much.
It is fair to assume that given the Department is responsible for a third of the State’s budget, health cuts through the efficiency dividend could amount to at least $100 million over the next three years.
RTI documents reveal that at least 700 health roles are already on the chopping block. When you add in the additional cuts the Minister couldn’t rule out today, the effect on the health system will be devasting.
Guy Barnett is clearly feeling the pressure that comes with having to cut Tasmania’s health system to help pay for his party’s disastrous decade of budget disaster.
The Minister still couldn’t explain why nurses and midwives wouldn’t be exempt from his cuts, and conceded it was ‘not normal’ for a RHH nurse to go and work at the LGH when the latter is severely understaffed – a complete 180-degree pivot from telling frontline health staff to get a grip just a fortnight earlier.
He also could not clearly answer questions about frontline workers. While he said nurses, doctors, paramedics and allied health were frontline, we know there have already been cuts to nursing and allied health roles.
When asked if other roles such as neurology or pharmacy were ‘front line’ or would be in line for cuts, he couldn’t answer, saying he’d need to ‘take advice’.
Tasmania’s health system cannot afford the Liberal-Lambie health cuts, our health workers are stretched to the limit, and they do an incredible job under difficult circumstances.
They deserve a State Government that has their back day in, day out, and fights to improve the working conditions in our health system, not cut it.
Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health
