Another Day, Another Union Scare

The latest union scaremongering should be seen for what it is: Labor-aligned union officials playing political games rather than working in the interests of their own members or of the Tasmanian community.

We made very clear that our preference was for a pay freeze to save 500 job cuts the previous Labor-Green government left embedded in the budget.

Labor, the Greens and the unions opposed the pay freeze, and must take responsibility for that if they are to have any credibility.

Unions are scaremongering in order to try to justify their about face on the wage freeze.

The facts are the first Liberal Budget is providing a record spend on health of $1.465 billion in the current financial year.

Funding for the THO South has increased by about $22 million this year.

The previous Government wrecked the health system, leaving the Liberal government with massive leadership, structural, financial and performance disasters. We are taking responsibility for addressing these problems in a way that will give Tasmanians a better health system.

The Liberal Government is getting on with the job of keeping our promises, fixing the Labor-Green budget mess and laying the foundations for the future.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health