Last night’s Budget has confirmed the Federal Labor Government has short-changed Tasmania on urgent care clinics and primary health care services.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett, said funding for only one additional Urgent Care Clinic in Tasmania is grossly inadequate.
“This is completely insufficient to meet the challenges of increasing demand on GP services and will only put more pressure on our Emergency Departments,” Minister Barnett said.
“The ongoing failures of the Federal Labor Government has forced the State to step in time and time again to ensure Tasmanians continue to have access to GP services, as practices come under threat of closure.
“Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future states our Government’s commitment to delivering more bulk-billed urgent care clinics for Tasmanians, so this is an incredibly disappointing outcome.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government has already partnered in one centre, and a fifth urgent care centre at Newstead in Launceston has been solely funded by our Government.
“I have written and advocated over a number of months to the Federal Labor Government seeking centres in growing regional areas like Sorell, Kingston, Bridgewater, as well as in Burnie and Launceston – all in effort to get more urgent care clinics.
“Alongside their failure to give Tasmania our fair share of urgent care clinics, the Federal Labor Government has similarly failed to fund the Launceston General Hospital redevelopment, which we have tirelessly advocated for.
“Tasmania has been left off the map in Federal Labor’s Budget – but we will not give up.
“We will continue to fight for our fair share, to ensure Tasmanians have access to primary care, when and where they need it.”
