Health
Minister Jeremy Rockliff must outline for Tasmanians what he has done to
ensure the state’s hospitals are prepared for a potentially wider outbreak of
COVID-19 and if he has finally demanded more help from Canberra.
Shadow
Health Minister Anita Dow said Mr Rockliff needed to assure Tasmanians he was
actively lobbying Scott Morrison for increased health funding since he had
admitted the response to his last request had been “less than satisfactory”.
“Tasmanians
are not only angry about the breach of hotel security which has caused a
lockdown in the state’s south, they want to know that the government is taking
every precaution to ensure our health system is ready in the unfortunate
instance that more cases are detected,” Ms Dow said.
“I
have written to the Prime Minister to be clear that the state’s hospitals are
already in crisis and make the case for increased federal funding as we face
the threat of delta.
“Tasmanians
want to know if Mr Rockliff has done the same thing or if he has picked up the
phone to Mr Morrison to ensure he is fully aware of the state of Tasmania’s
health system and to demand increased federal funding.
“Mr
Rockliff has so far been unable to say if he has had discussions or even
corresponded with Mr Morrison or the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and he
cannot just accept the response from Canberra so far, which he himself
described as less than satisfactory.
“Our
health and hospital system is already in crisis and
without additional resources, it will be stressed to breaking point if there is
a delta outbreak.
“With
this latest incident, it has never been more important or urgent.
“It’s well beyond time for Mr Rockliff and the Liberal Government to stand up to their federal colleagues on increased health funding or are they prepared to accept that the health and well-being of Tasmanians and ensuring our hospitals are ready is a very low priority for Canberra?”
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health
