It was revealed in Estimates today that the Liberal minority government has blown its budget partly as a result of relying on huge numbers of agency and locum staff across the health system instead of directly employing health workers.

The government spends at least $76 million on agency nurses and at least $105 million on locum doctors.

It costs between twice and three times more per position to use agency and locum staff compared to just directly employing health workers.

This makes it clear the Liberal minority government is failing to recruit and retain health workers, and it’s costing Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars.

The government should be focused on building a sustainable Tasmanian Health Service by addressing staffing levels and working conditions and directly employing a strong and stable workforce.

Instead, they’re focused on slashing at least $600 million from the health service across the forward estimates, abolishing positions via their Vacancy Control Board, and scaling back from urgently needed infrastructure projects like the Northern Heart Centre.

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health