PORK-BARRELLING A JOKE

ALLOCATION of funds for health in Tasmania has become a joke — this is pork-barrelling at its best (or worst) by our Liberal politicians in Tasmania, with the ALP not far behind. Although it seems a single hospital for the North-West, making three majors, would be the best for everyone, Rockliff persists with the “whale” of the MCH and the Premier said it will never close. How is it that the Australian Medical Association says the Launceston General Hospital is facing “beyond a crisis into disaster” due to the lack of funds? Hospitals face their worst ever demand, ramping, long wait times for all EDs, patients in hallways on trolleys, etc.

Yet this government can throw $37 million on an MCH upgrade. The NWRH can only manage a review for maternity, which may be $3.6 million — big difference.

Complicit in this are all Liberal politicians on the North and the North-West Coast, from whom we never hear a whisper. It will take some bravery from our representatives to fix this.

Marilyn Quirk Heybridge