On Preparedness for Opening …

Media release – Peter Gutwein, Premier, 9 December 2021

Tasmania prepared and ready to reopen

Tasmania’s vaccination program remains on track as we continue to draw closer to reopening in six days on December 15.

As it currently stands, 95 per cent of Tasmanians over 16 have had at least one dose and 89 per cent are now fully vaccinated. For Tasmanians aged 12 and over, 93 per cent have had at least one dose and 87 per cent are fully vaccinated.

This means we have now passed NSW and Victoria to have the second highest first dose vaccination rate in Australia, just behind the ACT.

This is a fantastic effort and a credit to all Tasmanians who have rolled up their sleeves and gotten vaccinated, but we are not there yet, and we continue to urge Tasmanians to keep turning up to vaccination appointments for either your first or second dose.

Importantly, with Tasmania to reopen in six days time, we are prepared, and we are ready.

I can also advise we will be mandating vaccination broadly across the State Service, as well as Government Businesses, State Owned Companies, and some statutory and state authorities, following the finalisation of risk assessments conducted.

There will be some exceptions, such as the majority of the Department of Treasury and finance whose staff do not generally interact with the general public or other public-facing areas in Treasury.

For the State Service, Heads of Agencies have written to staff today to outline the outcomes of their respective risk assessments and of the expectations moving forward, including the date by which they will need to be provide evidence of being sufficiently vaccinated, which will vary across each individual agency depending on organisational needs.

Agency heads will also work with individual staff members who choose not to be vaccinated, to consider what options may be available.

Other state entities are finalising their arrangements and continue to consult with staff, and will notify them of requirements once this process has been completed which will occur as soon as possible.

However, I want to be clear – non-compliance could lead to termination, so please, if you haven’t yet been vaccinated, make an appointment now and protect yourself, your community and your loved ones by getting the jab.

Public Health is also currently working through the risk associated with childcare settings and whether mandatory vaccinations are needed across this sector, with the sector to be further consulted on Monday 13 December.

Keeping Tasmanians safe and secure remains our top priority and we will continue to keep the community updated as we draw closer to reopening on December 15.

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Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Health spokesperson, 9 December 2021

Liberals Must Act on Health Concerns

Police Union reports of an unresponsive baby who had to be transported to hospital by police because no ambulance was available are alarming.

While this situation is distressing, it’s also a predictable consequence of the Liberals’ continued under-resourcing of the health system.

Every parent has the right to expect that when they call an ambulance for their sick child, they can rely on one turning up. In the Liberals’ Tasmania this is clearly not the case, which is terrible.

Healthcare workers have been consistently sounding the alarm. They have repeatedly told the Liberals to fix the understaffing, under-resourcing, and capacity issues in the health system, because an increasing number of patients will be at risk. This is exactly what has happened.

The health crisis is now so serious we have to rely on police to fill the role for paramedics. This is potentially dangerous for patients, and unfair for police officers.

The reopening of Tasmania’s borders will only add to the unreasonable strain on the health system. With only six days until reopening, health unions have said they have still not been given critical details about how the system is expected to cope.

Tasmanians have every right to be concerned about the capacity of our hospitals and health services, especially after December 15.

The Gutwein government is responsible for ensuring our healthcare system can cope with demand now, and especially after the border reopens.

It’s time for the Liberals to get their head out of the sand, listen to people working on the frontline, and put the resources needed in immediately. Anything less will result in more lives being put at risk, and more Tasmanians needlessly suffering.

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Anita Dow MP, Shadow Health Minister, 9 December 2021

Health system needs adequate staffing ready for border opening

With just six days to go until borders reopen concerns and questions over staffing levels across our health system remain.

Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said with the health system at breaking point, shortfalls on shifts now and health care professionals working overtime the government must explain what resources and support will be provided to staff as they face even more demand once we have COVID cases in our community.

“Today we heard the disturbing story of the state of our health system, with police having to respond to an unresponsive child on Tuesday night in Glenorchy due to the closest ambulance being an hour away in Oatlands,” Ms Dow said.

“This is completely unacceptable at any time, let alone six days out from borders reopening.

“On Tuesday the ANMF rightly raised concerns about staffing levels and lack of transparency in relation to workforce planning. Further statements by the ANMF and other unions today make it clear that the government is yet to provide detail about their plans for the frontline health workforce.”

Ms Dow said it was good to have public information on additional bed capacity, ICU, PPE and ventilators but we must have the staff required to provide care to Tasmanians across our community and hospitals.

“There is currently no modelling available on staffing requirements for when we have COVID in our community.

“At a time when our health workers are already under immense pressure the government must stand up and support them with the resources they need and to ensure their well-being and safety.

“Just six days out from our border reopening Tasmanians need confidence the government has put the required systems in place to keep them safe.

“We are not playing politics, we are asking genuine questions on behalf of Tasmanians as we prepare for our borders to reopen on December 15.”