Research support for Budget

TASMANIA’S Menzies Institute for Medical Research has led the praise for Tuesday night’s Budget, saying the Government’s commitment to disburse $400 million from the Medical Research Future Fund over the next four years will directly improve the lives of Tasmanians.

But not everyone was welcomed Treasurer Joe Hockey’s economic road map, with Tasmanian Opposition health spokeswoman Rebecca White saying she was disappointed not to see any new money for preventive health and Greens spokeswoman Cassy O’Connor saying the Budget put the state’s ambitious health reform plans at risk.

Menzies director Tom Marwick said with the MRFF on track to deliver its first $10 million in August, Tasmanian researchers could continue to build on the gains of the past confident adequate funding would flow into the future.

“This funding will give researchers greater access to the resources they need to make gains in prevention and treatment of these diseases,” Professor Marwick said.

While welcoming cash for the clinical redesign for the Launceston and Royal Hobart hospitals and to help cut elective surgery waiting lists, Ms White expressed disappointment the Budget did not contain a provision to keep open the John L. Groves Centre in the state’s North.

Ms O’Connor said the Budget had failed Tasmania’s health system by locking in cuts made last financial year.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said he remained disappointed by the reductions in health contributions that were announced last year.