Frontline health staff in Latrobe have today walked off the job, highlighting yet again Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s comprehensive failure on his promise to place a greater focus on fixing the health crisis.
The strike action comes after the tragic death of a woman aged in her 70s who was ramped for nine hours while waiting to be admitted to the Launceston General Hospital.
It was just last week that Mr Rockliff pulled out of a trade mission to New Zealand claiming he did so to place his focus on addressing the crisis in the health system.
But if Mr Rockliff was genuine about fixing Tasmania’s broken health and hospital system he would be making a serious effort to work with nurses and other health staff to come up with a plan to address the unprecedented pressure they are facing.
We have heard next to nothing from Mr Rockliff who continues to struggle as both Premier and part-time Health Minister.
Industrial action is a last resort for our exhausted, overworked and underpaid health staff and today’s strike – the third following similar actions at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the LGH – is a direct reflection of the weak leadership of a Premier who cannot get the basics right.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
