Labor welcomes the announcement of an independent investigation into the Royal Hobart Hospital’s maternity services. The claims by the ANMF and healthcare workers are extremely serious, and rightly require a full investigation.

Labor notes that the Government’s early response was dismissive and did not take seriously these very serious concerns raised by health workers and their union. The announcement of an independent investigation is acknowledgement of this and is welcomed.

We know that Tasmania’s health system is stretched to its limit. The government’s cuts to health jobs are making a bad situation worse.

How can Tasmania build the health system it needs, when the Government ensures the workforce is under-staffed, underpaid, and under-resourced?

We are calling on the Government to act swiftly on the findings of this investigation, but also to urgently address their health department’s existing staffing crisis. The Government needs to take concerns raised by workers and unions seriously and stop dismissing them when they are brought forward.

It’s well past time for Minister Barnett and the Minority Liberal Government to back in their front-line health staff – cuts are not the answer.

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health