Shocking revelations about ballooning patient wait times show exactly why Tasmania’s health system can’t afford the Liberal-Lambie cuts.

Both the Premier and Health Minister repeatedly refused to reveal the extent of the cuts.

At a time when patients have been waiting more than 11 years for specialist appointments.

At a time when there are patients waiting 70 times longer than clinically recommended to access health services they need.

At a time when ambulances are routinely taking longer than 10 hours to get to patients.

At a time when staff morale is the lowest it has ever been, and the health system is under extraordinary pressure.

Premier Rockliff and Health Minister Barnett won’t rule out a redundancy program in health.

He and his Minister for Health refused to rule out cuts to budgets, jobs, or service delivery.

And worse, they won’t say how much funding is being cut, and they won’t say how many jobs are going to be lost because of their sweeping cuts.

Guy Barnett denied there are any changes to the LGH masterplan this morning in The Examiner. However, this morning in question time both Minister Barnett and the Premier failed to answer whether the new mental health precinct would be completed by the start of 2026 – as stipulated by the masterplan.

All while their Jacqui Lambie Network coalition partners have been completely silent on the matter. Our health system and the dedicated staff who keep it running are clearly under immense pressure – and patients are waiting years for the care they need. Why won’t the Premier be honest with them about his cuts?

Why should Tasmanian patients be the ones to suffer because of the Liberals’ economic mismanagement?

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health