Tasmanian Labor welcomes today’s $6 million maternity services commitment from Federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

It’s yet another case of the Federal Government stepping in to fill the serious gaps left by the Minority Rockliff Liberal Government when it comes to health.

Under the Liberals, Tasmania’s health system is in dire straits. With Jeremy Rockliff’s budget in such bad shape that he’s cutting $600 million from the health system, he’s shown he can’t meet his government’s responsibility to provide healthcare to Tasmanians without being rescued by the Federal government time and time again.

With this welcome infrastructure commitment from Federal Labor, the onus is now on the Liberals to explain how they will address serious staffing issues that continue to lead to reduced services and contributed to the closure of the Hobart Private maternity ward in the first place.

We also welcome the decision to move the Mother Baby Unit to St John’s Park – but are calling for more detail and a timeline for this move to happen.

Ever since the closure of the St Helen’s Private Hospital unit Labor has said that housing the beds at the Royal Hobart Hospital is an unsatisfactory solution, but given the Liberal government’s track record we can’t bank on anything being delivered at St John’s Park any time soon.

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health