Liberals prescribe plan to expand role of chemists
Patients with ear infections, wounds and eczema could seek treatment at pharmacies later at night under a re-election pledge from the Tasmanian Liberals.
Pharmacists can already administer contraceptive pills and treat urinary tract infections without prescriptions from doctors, with another 23 conditions to be added to the list under the proposal.
Grants of $125,000 would be offered to pharmacies to stay open longer and on weekends, a policy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said cost about $1 million, which was already allocated to health in the budget.
"It frees up GP appointments for everyone else in Tasmania but most importantly, also takes the pressure off our emergency departments," Mr Rockliff told reporters in Riverside on Saturday.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Guild of Australia backed the plan, with vice-president Helen O'Byrne confident enough pharmacists were being trained to staff extended hours.
"Patients like to access primary health care at a time and place that's convenient for them," Ms Byrne said.
"Tasmanian patients also deserve to have access to the full range of health services available in other jurisdictions."
However Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said extending pharmacy prescribing was dangerous and put "patient safety at risk".
"Pharmacists are not doctors," he said."They should not be diagnosing conditions which can look superficial but instead be a pointer to something more serious that requires years of study and practice to understand."Added to this, letting someone prescribe and profit from the same medicine is a clear conflict of interest."
While the government kicked off the first weekend of the campaign focused on health, the opposition sought to tap into frustrations over delays plaguing major projects.
Senior Tasmanian bureaucrats would be sacked and stripped of bonuses if major infrastructure projects were not delivered on time and on budget under a Labor government.
"We need to make sure these people understand exactly what their job is and that's to deliver for Tasmanians," Opposition Leader Dean Winter said in Devonport.
Labor pledged to "boost up" Infrastructure Tasmania and reallocate about $1 million to create a team dedicated to overseeing projects worth more than $100 million.
That would include Spirit of Tasmania upgrades, as the price of a yet-to-be-built Devonport facility blows out from $90 million to $495 million.
"If we can get these projects right from the start, then we don't see these huge stuff-ups that cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars and cost our economy even more," Mr Winter said.
The July 19 election was called in the days after Mr Rockliff refused to resign following a no-confidence motion in parliament.
That was passed in part due to former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner, who revealed on Saturday he has switched to the Nationals.
"Seventy to 80 per cent of my area, which is the division of Lyons, is rural and regional and I don't think there's a party positioned to represent it better than the Nationals," Mr Jenner said at a press conference alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.
With the premier twice governing in minority, the Labor and Liberal parties are pushing for an outright win.
Other parties have made no secret of crossbench ambitions, with the Greens vowing not to cut the public service if they win the balance of power.
"It's not just the people that we see publicly out in front that are essential - it is everybody behind the scenes that is doing the admin, doing the paperwork and ensuring the public service functions properly," Greens MP Tabatha Badger said.
Patients with ear infections, wounds and eczema could seek treatment at pharmacies later at night under a re-election pledge from the Tasmanian Liberals.
Pharmacists can already administer contraceptive pills and treat urinary tract infections without prescriptions from doctors, with another 23 conditions to be added to the list under the proposal.
Grants of $125,000 would be offered to pharmacies to stay open longer and on weekends, a policy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said cost about $1 million, which was already allocated to health in the budget.
"It frees up GP appointments for everyone else in Tasmania but most importantly, also takes the pressure off our emergency departments," Mr Rockliff told reporters in Riverside on Saturday.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Guild of Australia backed the plan, with vice-president Helen O'Byrne confident enough pharmacists were being trained to staff extended hours.
"Patients like to access primary health care at a time and place that's convenient for them," Ms Byrne said.
"Tasmanian patients also deserve to have access to the full range of health services available in other jurisdictions."
However Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said extending pharmacy prescribing was dangerous and put "patient safety at risk".
"Pharmacists are not doctors," he said."They should not be diagnosing conditions which can look superficial but instead be a pointer to something more serious that requires years of study and practice to understand."Added to this, letting someone prescribe and profit from the same medicine is a clear conflict of interest."
While the government kicked off the first weekend of the campaign focused on health, the opposition sought to tap into frustrations over delays plaguing major projects.
Senior Tasmanian bureaucrats would be sacked and stripped of bonuses if major infrastructure projects were not delivered on time and on budget under a Labor government.
"We need to make sure these people understand exactly what their job is and that's to deliver for Tasmanians," Opposition Leader Dean Winter said in Devonport.
Labor pledged to "boost up" Infrastructure Tasmania and reallocate about $1 million to create a team dedicated to overseeing projects worth more than $100 million.
That would include Spirit of Tasmania upgrades, as the price of a yet-to-be-built Devonport facility blows out from $90 million to $495 million.
"If we can get these projects right from the start, then we don't see these huge stuff-ups that cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars and cost our economy even more," Mr Winter said.
The July 19 election was called in the days after Mr Rockliff refused to resign following a no-confidence motion in parliament.
That was passed in part due to former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner, who revealed on Saturday he has switched to the Nationals.
"Seventy to 80 per cent of my area, which is the division of Lyons, is rural and regional and I don't think there's a party positioned to represent it better than the Nationals," Mr Jenner said at a press conference alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.
With the premier twice governing in minority, the Labor and Liberal parties are pushing for an outright win.
Other parties have made no secret of crossbench ambitions, with the Greens vowing not to cut the public service if they win the balance of power.
"It's not just the people that we see publicly out in front that are essential - it is everybody behind the scenes that is doing the admin, doing the paperwork and ensuring the public service functions properly," Greens MP Tabatha Badger said.
Patients with ear infections, wounds and eczema could seek treatment at pharmacies later at night under a re-election pledge from the Tasmanian Liberals.
Pharmacists can already administer contraceptive pills and treat urinary tract infections without prescriptions from doctors, with another 23 conditions to be added to the list under the proposal.
Grants of $125,000 would be offered to pharmacies to stay open longer and on weekends, a policy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said cost about $1 million, which was already allocated to health in the budget.
"It frees up GP appointments for everyone else in Tasmania but most importantly, also takes the pressure off our emergency departments," Mr Rockliff told reporters in Riverside on Saturday.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Guild of Australia backed the plan, with vice-president Helen O'Byrne confident enough pharmacists were being trained to staff extended hours.
"Patients like to access primary health care at a time and place that's convenient for them," Ms Byrne said.
"Tasmanian patients also deserve to have access to the full range of health services available in other jurisdictions."
However Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said extending pharmacy prescribing was dangerous and put "patient safety at risk".
"Pharmacists are not doctors," he said."They should not be diagnosing conditions which can look superficial but instead be a pointer to something more serious that requires years of study and practice to understand."Added to this, letting someone prescribe and profit from the same medicine is a clear conflict of interest."
While the government kicked off the first weekend of the campaign focused on health, the opposition sought to tap into frustrations over delays plaguing major projects.
Senior Tasmanian bureaucrats would be sacked and stripped of bonuses if major infrastructure projects were not delivered on time and on budget under a Labor government.
"We need to make sure these people understand exactly what their job is and that's to deliver for Tasmanians," Opposition Leader Dean Winter said in Devonport.
Labor pledged to "boost up" Infrastructure Tasmania and reallocate about $1 million to create a team dedicated to overseeing projects worth more than $100 million.
That would include Spirit of Tasmania upgrades, as the price of a yet-to-be-built Devonport facility blows out from $90 million to $495 million.
"If we can get these projects right from the start, then we don't see these huge stuff-ups that cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars and cost our economy even more," Mr Winter said.
The July 19 election was called in the days after Mr Rockliff refused to resign following a no-confidence motion in parliament.
That was passed in part due to former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner, who revealed on Saturday he has switched to the Nationals.
"Seventy to 80 per cent of my area, which is the division of Lyons, is rural and regional and I don't think there's a party positioned to represent it better than the Nationals," Mr Jenner said at a press conference alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.
With the premier twice governing in minority, the Labor and Liberal parties are pushing for an outright win.
Other parties have made no secret of crossbench ambitions, with the Greens vowing not to cut the public service if they win the balance of power.
"It's not just the people that we see publicly out in front that are essential - it is everybody behind the scenes that is doing the admin, doing the paperwork and ensuring the public service functions properly," Greens MP Tabatha Badger said.
Patients with ear infections, wounds and eczema could seek treatment at pharmacies later at night under a re-election pledge from the Tasmanian Liberals.
Pharmacists can already administer contraceptive pills and treat urinary tract infections without prescriptions from doctors, with another 23 conditions to be added to the list under the proposal.
Grants of $125,000 would be offered to pharmacies to stay open longer and on weekends, a policy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said cost about $1 million, which was already allocated to health in the budget.
"It frees up GP appointments for everyone else in Tasmania but most importantly, also takes the pressure off our emergency departments," Mr Rockliff told reporters in Riverside on Saturday.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Pharmacy Guild of Australia backed the plan, with vice-president Helen O'Byrne confident enough pharmacists were being trained to staff extended hours.
"Patients like to access primary health care at a time and place that's convenient for them," Ms Byrne said.
"Tasmanian patients also deserve to have access to the full range of health services available in other jurisdictions."
However Australian Medical Association Tasmania president Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel said extending pharmacy prescribing was dangerous and put "patient safety at risk".
"Pharmacists are not doctors," he said."They should not be diagnosing conditions which can look superficial but instead be a pointer to something more serious that requires years of study and practice to understand."Added to this, letting someone prescribe and profit from the same medicine is a clear conflict of interest."
While the government kicked off the first weekend of the campaign focused on health, the opposition sought to tap into frustrations over delays plaguing major projects.
Senior Tasmanian bureaucrats would be sacked and stripped of bonuses if major infrastructure projects were not delivered on time and on budget under a Labor government.
"We need to make sure these people understand exactly what their job is and that's to deliver for Tasmanians," Opposition Leader Dean Winter said in Devonport.
Labor pledged to "boost up" Infrastructure Tasmania and reallocate about $1 million to create a team dedicated to overseeing projects worth more than $100 million.
That would include Spirit of Tasmania upgrades, as the price of a yet-to-be-built Devonport facility blows out from $90 million to $495 million.
"If we can get these projects right from the start, then we don't see these huge stuff-ups that cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars and cost our economy even more," Mr Winter said.
The July 19 election was called in the days after Mr Rockliff refused to resign following a no-confidence motion in parliament.
That was passed in part due to former Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner, who revealed on Saturday he has switched to the Nationals.
"Seventy to 80 per cent of my area, which is the division of Lyons, is rural and regional and I don't think there's a party positioned to represent it better than the Nationals," Mr Jenner said at a press conference alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.
With the premier twice governing in minority, the Labor and Liberal parties are pushing for an outright win.
Other parties have made no secret of crossbench ambitions, with the Greens vowing not to cut the public service if they win the balance of power.
"It's not just the people that we see publicly out in front that are essential - it is everybody behind the scenes that is doing the admin, doing the paperwork and ensuring the public service functions properly," Greens MP Tabatha Badger said.
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A slew of familiar faces have popped up as candidates in a surprise state election that continues to be dominated by a controversial stadium plan. Among those putting their hands up ahead of the Tasmanian election are former Liberal state attorney-general Elise Archer, who will run as an independent at the July 19 poll. The snap election, which will be the state's second in 16 months, was called after Premier Jeremy Rockliff refused to resign following a successful no-confidence vote in his leadership. Ms Archer is contesting the Hobart-based seat of Clark after she was dumped from her frontbench role and quit parliament following bullying allegations. She denies any wrongdoing. She said she decided to run after being frustrated about the state's financial situation and poor governance under the Liberal-led minority administration. Minority government seemed "inevitable" and sensible but experienced independents were needed, Ms Archer said. 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The Greens insist York Park in Launceston, which hosted 15,000 people for a Friday clash between Hawthorn and Adelaide, should be the home of football. Mr Rockliff said his party supported the stadium as it would keep the state economy strong. "We keep investing in people, in infrastructure that grows our economy, so we can fund those essential services that all Tasmanians care about," the premier said. Labor Leader Dean Winter said his party was consulting with stakeholders over legislation allowing the stadium to bypass planning and development approvals, but he reiterated support for the project. "We understand that that's the link between the AFL team that Tasmania has desperately wanted," he said in Old Beach, north of Hobart, to announce a plan to slash development rules in half to get housing built faster. Ms Archer said she couldn't support the stadium due to the cost, noting "no other AFL team has had such strict requirements placed on it like Tasmania". 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Mr Rockliff declined to comment on his former colleague's tilt as an independent while unveiling the Liberals' seven candidates for the seat of Lyons on Sunday, but he reiterated only a majority government could provide stability. "A vote for an independent is a vote for politics and instability," he said. The premier was in Launceston on Sunday, announcing a pledge to expand women's healthcare service The Bubble and reduce the need for women and girls in the north to travel for care. The Greens, which could have a role in deciding who forms government in the 35-seat lower house, have called on both parties to clarify their position on the controversial Macquarie Point stadium. The stadium in Hobart is a condition of the AFL granting the island state a team licence and has been backed by the Liberals and Labor, but the Greens and some independents oppose the project due to its potential $1 billion price tag. 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The Greens insist York Park in Launceston, which hosted 15,000 people for a Friday clash between Hawthorn and Adelaide, should be the home of football. Mr Rockliff said his party supported the stadium as it would keep the state economy strong. "We keep investing in people, in infrastructure that grows our economy, so we can fund those essential services that all Tasmanians care about," the premier said. Labor Leader Dean Winter said his party was consulting with stakeholders over legislation allowing the stadium to bypass planning and development approvals, but he reiterated support for the project. "We understand that that's the link between the AFL team that Tasmania has desperately wanted," he said in Old Beach, north of Hobart, to announce a plan to slash development rules in half to get housing built faster. Ms Archer said she couldn't support the stadium due to the cost, noting "no other AFL team has had such strict requirements placed on it like Tasmania". 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Amazon mega deal underscores economic relationship with US, minister says
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