Despite the government having months to prepare the health system and telling Tasmanians it was ready, it is now clear they were not.
Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said the government told Tasmanians they had recruited 840 additional staff since July 2020 with further recruiting happening in their COVID hospital preparedness plan.
“However, the fact is they are still recruiting now and were not prepared,” Ms Dow said.
“Our health care workers right across the state were already at breaking point before the Premier opened the borders, being forced to work overtime and extra shifts.
“Now just three weeks after the borders opened the government is scrambling, announcing policy changes to cover the cracks in a health system they have neglected for years.
“Today we have heard that essential health workers who are close contacts will exit isolation and re-enter the workforce in order to keep health services running.
“This is an incredible admission of failure by the government and it could not be clearer that they were anything but ready for border reopening.”
