The deepening crisis in Tasmania’s hospitals shows once again why it is so cruel and so wrong for the Rockliff Government to be cutting $700 million from the health system.
All Tasmanians have seen how the health system has deteriorated under the Liberals, and one look at the current situation in our hospitals – or indeed the government’s own statistics – shows things are worse than ever. Rather than fixing this situation, the government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on building a stadium while cutting hundreds of millions of dollars out of the health system.
We have heard the Minister for Health repeatedly argue that taking $700 million out of health is not a cut. That is completely untrue, a lie delivered for the sake of political convenience. It’s particularly disappointing to see such a deceptive approach from a Minister who used to stand for integrity.
We’re already hearing from health staff that the Liberals’ health cuts are having consequences for patient facing roles. Those consequences will only get worse as the cuts deepen.
Tasmanians deserve a government that makes their healthcare a top priority. Unfortunately the Rockliff Government is more focused on building stadiums and pointing fingers rather than taking responsibility for improving the health system.
