Palliative care in Tasmania not a priority for Liberal Government

Malcolm Turnbull’s 2017 Federal Budget has delivered more disappointment for Tasmanian’s requiring palliative care services.

The $3 million in funding included in the Budget for palliative care services in Tasmania is a pathetic attempt to distract from the Turnbull Government’s lack of commitment to end of life care for Tasmanians.

The Budget stipulates $3 million in funding over three years to the Tasmanian State Government to continue to provide support for Tasmanians to access palliative care services – an amount which Senator Helen Polley says “is insufficient to fund both a 10 bed standalone hospice for Launceston or the District Nurses Hospice@Home program.”
“The Turnbull Government has failed to match Labor’s 2016 Federal Election commitment to fund a standalone Launceston hospice,” Senator Polley said.

“The Federal Government should have stipulated to the State Liberal Government how the funds should be used. Further to this, just because the Federal Government has provided this funding to the State Government does not remove their responsibility for palliative care in Tasmania.

“Tasmania has the oldest population and the highest rate of chronic illnesses in the country. The Liberal Government has a responsibility to ensure Tasmanian’s have access to services for palliative care.

Currently there are only four public beds available in Launceston for palliative care. In comparison to Hobart which has 10 standalone public beds available to the public. The community, doctors, nurses and other health stakeholders have all backed the proposal for standalone hospice for the North of the state. It’s time for the Liberal Governments to listen to what the people they represent are saying.

Palliative Care Tasmania and Hospice@Home once had bipartisan support, but they can no longer provide support services because the Turnbull Government cut their funding through the Better Access to Palliative Care program.

Both major parties used to recognise palliative care as a health priority, but the Turnbull Government has clearly shifted its policy position on palliative care.

“After a disastrous Federal Election result last year, the test for the Tasmanian Liberal Senate team was to help deliver a Budget to meet the needs and interests of Tasmanians, but they have failed and now they need to explain to the Tasmanian community why the 10 bed Northern Hospice and the District Nurses are not worthy of funding. This will be difficult to explain considering the former State Liberal Opposition supported the standalone hospice ” Senator Polley said.
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR AGED CARE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA