Senator for Tasmania Catryna Bilyk expressed extreme disappointment that the Turnbull Government had failed to respond to calls to save Palliative Care Tasmania.
Senator Bilyk said that with both her and Palliative Care Tasmania writing to Health Minister Sussan Ley and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull it was disappointing that neither had acknowledged the issue at hand.
“All I have had so far is a response from an adviser to Minister Ley that the program is being reviewed and the review is expected to be completed in December,” Senator Bilyk said. “I have pointed out to the Minister’s office, to the Prime Minister, in Parliament and in the media that Palliative Care Tasmania will not exist beyond the end of this month if they do not receive interim funding. This fact continues to go unacknowledged by the Government.”
Senator Bilyk said that it is also disappointing that incorrect facts were being provided in response to media interest in the story.
“The Minister’s office was quoted in Wednesday’s Mercury that Palliative Care Tasmania received $63.2 million over four years from 2012. The previous Labor Government provided them with $2.6 million over four years,” Senator Bilyk said.
“Her office also incorrectly stated that their funding period was extended to September to give them more time to meet their outputs. They have actually exceeded their outputs and received an extension to their funding agreement because of an underspend.”
“The fact that the Minister has fails to get the facts right about Palliative Care Tasmania shows that she either does not understand or does not care about the future of the organisation.”
SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK DEPUTY OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
