Campaign Media Release LABOR MEMBER FOR BRADDON NEARLY A WEEK AND COUNTING – SILENCE FROM GARRY CARPENTER ON TONY ABBOTT’S HEALTH AND HOSPITAL HIT LIST Garry Carpenter is still refusing to say a word about Tony Abbott’s health and hospitals hit list – nearly a week after the Coalition confirmed it would cut vital services at health and hospital facilities across the country. Federal Member for Braddon Sid Sidebottom today said Garry Carpenter had an opportunity at Sunday night’s health forum to stand up and explain why the Coalition would take the knife to health funding. Tony Abbott confirmed a Coalition Government would cut vital services at health and hospital facilities across the country, just days before his belated visit to Tasmania. North West Regional Hospital, the Devonport and Burnie GP Super Clinics and aged care services are on Tony Abbott’s health and hospitals hit list. In response to the Coalition’s plans, Federal Labor has released the full list of health and hospital facilities receiving funding that the Coalition does not support. A range of health services are receiving support from the Gillard Labor Government, including: North West Regional Hospital for an Elective Surgery upgrade and Emergency Department upgrade Devonport GP Super Clinic Burnie GP Super Clinic (under construction) Zero Real Interest Loans to help Meercroft Care Inc, OneCare Limited and Tasmania (North West) Transition Care Program But Tasmanian health services are on Tony Abbott’s hit list after he pledged to take the biggest reform to health and hospitals since the introduction of Medicare and throw it in the bin. “Nearly a week has gone by and Garry Carpenter has not explained why the Coalition would rip the funding out of our hospitals,” Sid Sidebottom said. “Only a Gillard Labor Government can guarantee that Tasmanian health services will not miss out or lose Federal Government support.” It has also been revealed that the Coalition’s health policy will rip more than $100 million from our state’s health system over the next four years.
Abandoning the national hospital reforms would see Tasmania lose out on more than $102 million, including funding to help ease pressures on hospital Emergency Departments and elective surgery waiting lists. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO INTERVIEW: LUKE SAYER 0458 311 355 TASMANIA 8 AUGUST 2010 COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 | Fax: (02) 9264 2213 www.alp.org.au. AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.