Until Health Minister Guy Barnett acknowledges the damage that the Liberal-Lambie health cuts will inflict on Tasmania’s already struggling health system, his claims about increasing employment can’t be trusted.

While the attraction and retention of more nurses is welcome, employing more health staff while cutting others is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

RTI documents obtained by Labor show that more than 700 positions are not ‘funded’ across the health department, leaving them at risk of being cut under the Liberals’ vacancy control measures. It is important to note that being ‘unfunded’ does not mean ‘unfilled’ with many of these crucial positions on the Liberal-Lambie chopping block filled on a temporary basis.

Mr Barnett repeated his empty claims that there will be more frontline health workers this time next year, which might be more believable if it wasn’t for the fact that he can’t even define what a frontline health worker is.

Tasmania’s health system is sick enough – whether its jobs or infrastructure, it can’t afford the Liberal-Lambie cuts.

Ella Haddad MP
Shadow Minister for Health