Labor cautiously welcomes the commitment received by the ANMF that nurses and midwives will be quarantined from vacancy control measures – but remains concerned about the impact the Liberal-Lambie coalition’s hidden cuts will have on the health system.

The vacancy control measures were introduced to address a “significant deterioration” in the Health Department’s budget last financial year, which was forecast by the department to worsen in 2024-25. We know some nursing positions have already been lost via this process.

It is important to note that these vacancy control measures sit outside the cuts we know are coming to health system under the government’s $300 million efficiency dividend – which they still refuse to come clean about.

RTI documents also reveal that at least 700 jobs across the health system are on the chopping block – and the government has refused to make clear which jobs they intend to target.

Tasmania’s nurses and midwives are immensely valued and do a terrific job under difficult circumstances. While they represent the front-line of the health system, they can only do this role with the support of other roles within the health workforce.

Like we’ve seen with the upcoming cuts to police, fire and emergency services, we know that nurses and midwives will be asked to pick up the slack of any jobs that are axed under the Liberal-lambie cuts, reducing their capacity to perform front-line roles.

Tasmania’s health system is already stretched to the limit. As health stakeholders have continuously said throughout this process, it is impossible to cut roles without having an impact on service delivery.

The Liberal-Lambie coalition must come clean about the extent of their cuts to the health system so Tasmanians can know the true picture.

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health