2 days ago
Tasmanian Labor officially launches election campaign week before snap poll
The Tasmanian Labor Party has pledged to double the number of free GP clinics it will open, if elected into government at next weekend's snap poll.
The party had previously proposed creating five government-run GP clinics in health hubs around the state, in a move inspired by the federal and state governments' Urgent Care Clinics.
Under the TassieDoc plan, the state government would pay nursing and admin staff as well as provide the clinic and consulting rooms.
The clinics are also intended to operate with extended hours, including weekends.
The initial pledge was matched by the Tasmanian Liberal Party — but on Sunday, at Labor's official campaign launch in Devonport, party leader Dean Winter announced it was bumping up its promise to 10 clinics.
He said he had been "stunned" by reception to the TassieDoc plan.
"Doctors calling us saying they want to get involved, Tasmanians begging us to put them in their communities.
"We'll make sure that Tasmanians can access free doctor appointments no matter where they live."
The party has previously identified Ravenswood, Burnie, Devonport, Glenorchy and Risdon Vale as the locations for the first five clinics.
During the campaign launch, Mr Winter also pledged to introduce legislation to ensure GP contractors do not have to pay payroll tax permanently, and introduce an exemption for GP registrars.
'"Labor will also establish an ongoing State-Federal Tasmanian doctor recruitment task force to continue to train and retain doctors in Tasmania," he said.
Having flown in to support the campaign launch, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers threw his support behind the state Labor leader.
"The Liberal waste, the overruns and the blowouts are costing Tasmanians dearly," Mr Chalmers said.
"This is the Liberal legacy laid bare."
The Tasmanian branch of the Australian Medical Association said it welcomed the investment — but that staffing challenges could not be ignored.
"We're already short of GPs in Tasmania," vice-president Meg Creely said.
"So while we welcome the investment in primary care and the recognition that it's such a vital part of our entire healthcare world here in Tassie, we've got to work out how we attract the doctors to work there."
Dr Creely said things like the task force put forward by Labor sounded "positive" for the short-term recruitment of doctors.
But, she said it was important retention was also in focus — and that the clinics did not impact on existing practices.
When it first announced the clinics, Labor said it would spend $5 million fitting out the five clinics, then $4 million a year to keep them running, and $2 million towards incentives for GPs to work at them.
Liberal health spokesperson Jacquie Petrusma described Labor's announcement as a "last-ditch campaign con".
"The Liberal Government backs establishing sustainable GP clinics in areas of need that are able to be supported and staffed," she said.
"We have generous settlement allowances and settlements on the table, and our viability grants to strengthen practices across the state are working."
Ms Petrusma said GPs who contract a clinical space were already exempt from payroll tax.
A Liberal spokesperson said the party would not be matching the TassieDoc expansion pledge.
Tasmanians will head to the polls on July 19.
