Senator for Tasmania, Catryna Bilyk, has just tabled a petition in the Senate to save Palliative Care Tasmania.
Online and hard copy versions of the petition received a total of 940 signatures in just one month.
“I have written to the Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, urging the Turnbull Government to make a commitment to extend this program’s funding,” Senator Bilyk said.
“The Minister’s office have advised me that a review of the program is expected to be completed in December, but that will be too late for Palliative Care Tasmania, and they will be forced to close their doors.”
In 2012, the then Labor government provided Palliative Care Tasmania with $2.6 million over four years as part of the Better Access to Palliative Care program.
In the past 18 months, Palliative Care Tasmania have used their funding to deliver end-of-life care education to more than 13,000 Tasmanians.
“Dying in their preferred setting provides a better end-of-life experience for many Tasmanians while taking financial pressure of the acute care system.
“Because Tasmanians now have greater awareness of their care choices, 26 percent of people have the opportunity to die at home compared with only 14 percent nationally.
“Instead of forcing Palliative Care Tasmania to wind up, the Turnbull Government should extend their funding and consider their program for a national rollout, just as Labor committed to during the recent Federal election.”
Senator Bilyk will address the matter again in a speech during tonight’s adjournment debate.
SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK DEPUTY OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
