Tasmanians will have better access to specialist medical services, with a Shorten Labor Government investing $4.5 million to TazReach – restoring the funding cut by the Turnbull Government.

The Tazreach program provides access to critical medical services where they otherwise aren’t available, bringing the specialists to the community rather than making people have to travel to the cities or interstate.

For some parts of Tasmania – including the North West and West Coasts – this program can be the difference between someone getting the care they need, or missing out altogether.

Labor’s $4.5 million investment will mean more Tasmanians can access vital health services such as obstetricians, psychiatrists, cardiologists and optometrists.

Turnbull and Brett Whiteley slashed funding to this program in 2016 by $2.5 million – meaning fewer services and fewer people treated.

At the time, the West Coast Council Mayor Phil Vickers said that the funding cut would have a disastrous impact on the area:

“The loss of these services places more stress on unwell residents and will also place more pressure on these services in other regions as West Coasters will now have to travel to attend appointments.” 

Turnbull has ripped millions out of Tasmania’s hospitals, frozen rebates for GPs and specialists, and cut millions out of the Tazreach program – and Brett Whiteley defended all of these cuts.

Labor has already announced $30 million to tackle Tasmania’s elective surgery waiting lists, and today’s funding will improve access to the health services that are needed most.

Justine Keay is fighting for Braddon to get a fair go – every dollar of Turnbull’s $80 billion big business handout is a dollar he is cutting from local health and hospitals.

Last time Brett Whiteley was member, cuts to every local hospital were locked in and the Medicare freeze was introduced and extended. The Liberals can’t be trusted on health.

Only Bill Shorten and Justine Keay will stand up for a Fair Go for the North West and West Coasts.