HACSU wishes Michael Ferguson all the best in his new portfolios and congratulates Sarah Courtney as Tasmania’s new Health Minister.

State Secretary Tim Jacobson said today, “We can’t allow this news to distract us from ensuring the health crisis doesn’t get worse than it already is – Tasmania’s health workforce is buckling under the pressure of rising demand and increased complexity and the new minister’s first task is to push back on the announced health budget cuts that are unsustainable and will place Tasmanians, and the minister’s own workforce, at risk”.

The new minister’s real fight will be to pressure Premier Hodgman and Treasurer Gutwein for more resources, as she’ll soon find a huge black hole in her budget, and they must support and work with her to find the necessary funds because we’re in crisis now and can’t wait another 5 years for action.

First and foremost, Minister Courtney needs to gain the confidence of staff and recognise the constant stress they’re under, our members care for the health needs of Tasmanians every day and want to work with a minister who also cares, and we look forward to a constructive relationship where we can achieve some quick results on the way to rebuilding our broken health system.

What HACSU fails to understand is why, amidst massive NDIS changes across the disability sector, the government has dropped disability from its ministerial portfolio - this makes no sense!

The blame game must stop!

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