The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, said today the Federal Government is poised to announce a cash injection of hundreds of millions of dollars for Tasmania’s public health system, and that this money will be fully exempted from the GST carve-up.
“In parallel with my work with the Federal Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to improve public health care in Tasmania, I can reveal I’ve also been in lengthy discussions with the Leader of the House of Representatives, Anthony Albanese, about the financial aspects of any federal lifeline,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“I can also reveal the Federal Government has agreed there is a genuine need for a substantial cash injection for Tasmania’s public health system and is working on a lifeline worth hundreds of millions of dollars over four years.
“The Government will announce the funding as early as next week and include an immediate cash injection this month. It would be provided on the condition the State Government does not further reduce its health budget from that already planned.
“Furthermore I can reveal the Federal Government has agreed Tasmania has a special case for an exemption from the GST carve-up in this instance because Tasmania has unique difficulties, including the added costs of delivering health care compared with interstate.
“Exactly where the money would be directed is still being finalised. But I spoke with the Federal Health Minister on Thursday after her most recent fact-finding trip to Tasmania and she acknowledged, among other things, the pressing need to tackle surgery waiting lists and take the pressure off hospital emergency departments.”
The Health Minister also acknowledged the importance of Tasmania introducing reforms that would put the public health system on a sustainable footing.
“Less than six weeks have passed since I first raised with the Prime Minister in her Sydney office the desperate need for federal help,” Mr Wilkie said. “That the Federal Government has responded so quickly is an alarming confirmation that the system will collapse unless something is done to prop it up, and unless genuine reforms are implemented to put it on a sustainable footing.”
