Health matters the most, say voters

NEW polling leaves little room for doubt about the issue most important to Tasmanians: Health.

Exclusive Mercury polling conducted by ReachTEL re- veals health remains the issue front of mind for most people, followed closely by jobs and the economy.

More than 36 per cent of respondents identified health as the issue most important to them.

This was followed by jobs and the economy (32.8 per cent) and education (14 per cent).

In the wake of the energy crisis last year, energy security was shown to be an emerging concern, with 6.9 per cent of people identifying it as their most important issue.

More Liberal voters were concerned about jobs and the economy than health, while this figure was reversed among Labor voters. The poll of 2817 Tasmanians was done on Thursday and Friday last week.

Australian Medical Association state president Stuart Day said it was no surprise health was the most prominent issue for voters statewide.

“This reflects AMA Tasmania’s belief that the issue of health and our already stretched hospital system will be paramount in the run up to the next election,” Dr Day said.

Heart Foundation CEO Graeme Lynch said the poll was a reminder that health and wellbeing should be front of mind for policy makers.

“There has been significant under-investment in preventive health. That is, keeping Tasmanians well for longer and outside the acute hospital system,” Mr Lynch said.

“There is a need for a modest increase in investment in tackling obesity, smoking, and lack of physical inactivity from the current level of less than 2 per cent of the health budget to at least 5 per cent.”

The Heart Foundation is calling for a joint approach across government on all aspects of wellbeing, from walking and cycling infrastructure to resourcing of GPs.

The State Government and the Opposition have ramped up their focus on health ahead of the state election, largely in response to escalating concerns about pressure on the hospital system.

The May State Budget included an additional $658 mil- lion for the health system over four years.

Premier Will Hodgman said the Government’s top priorities were jobs, health and education, in line with Tasmanians’ key concerns.

“We’ve come a long way since the election but we know there’s a lot more to do,” Mr Hodgman said.

“At the next election, Tasmanians will have a very clear choice: either a strong majority Hodgman Government with a long-term plan which is delivering results, or a Labor-Green minority government that will take the state backwards.”

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Labor had been consistently saying health was the No. 1 issue for Tasmanians.

“It’s the issue that is raised with us more than any other. Our hospital system is in crisis and the Liberals have failed to listen to doctors and nurses and worked to find solutions,” Ms White said.

“Labor has committed an additional $88 million to health, on top of what’s already in the Budget.

“We are determined to ease the pressure on our hospital system but also invest in preventive health measures.”

Meanwhile, Tassal seized on the small percentage of people polled who identified fish farming as their most important issue.

Further Mercury- ReachTEL polling in relation to Tassal’s Okehampton Bay fish farm showed 47.9 per cent of Tasmanians were against the fish farm, 29.4 per cent in favour and 22.7 per cent undecided.

Tassal senior manager corporate engagement Barbara McGregor said the fact only 2.9 per cent of people identified fish farming as the issue most important to them indicated controversy about the industry would not be a major factor in the state election.

ONLY some of us who are compelled to endure ever-present acute pain will be aware that this is National Pain Awareness Week. To those who enjoy a painfree lifestyle, pain is a mere fleeting inconvenience to be shrugged off or ignored. This group are without doubt living in the Lucky Country. We pain sufferers are clearly disadvantaged by the extra cost of medication by the inability to access the various health professionals recommended by our GPs and by loss of sleep, which itself has serious adverse impacts on our health.

In Tasmania most governmental interest is directed toward our hospitals. Rightly so. But it is clearly not right to neglect those of us who are enduring pain, or are physically or psychologically handicapped or who can expect little help in surmounting the “brick walls” or “merry-go-rounds” that continually confront us when we attempt to improve our lot.

There is much need for improvement in Tasmania for those forgotten people who I mention here. For those who doubt my words, I fully endorse words expressed by Sean Tims, whose story ( Mercury, July 24) clearly shows how pain problems without effective help can bring about unacceptable after effects. We need help. Is anyone out there listening in this, National Pain Week? Alan Churchill Glenorchy