The time has come to rescue the scores of vulnerable Tasmanians stranded in our hospitals.
Premiers and First Ministers across Australia have united to call on the Australian Government to act.
In Tasmania, on average, there are the equivalent of three hospital wards of Tasmanians medically ready to be discharged who are stranded.
They are waiting for a residential aged care place or access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its supports.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said Tasmania is in lockstep with every other jurisdiction in the country in demanding that the Federal Government fulfil its responsibility.
"Three full wards of Tasmanians are stranded in our hospitals on any given day because the Federal Government is not delivering on its responsibilities," Premier Rockliff said.
"These are Tasmanians who deserve to be with their loved ones in a supportive environment where they can heal and rest in their own home.
"We all agree that this situation is not good enough, and the consequences are being felt across Tasmania's health system.
"Our Government has stepped in time and time again to deliver the services Tasmanians need, but today I join Premiers and First Ministers from across the country to draw a line in the sand.
"In a united front, we are calling on the Federal Government to come to the table with a plan to rescue stranded Australians."
At the same time, the Federal Government is trying to walk back on the 2023 National Health Reform Agreement.
"The Federal Government's failure to deliver on this commitment means Tasmania faces a $673 million shortfall of health funding over the next five years," the Premier said.
"The Federal Government made a commitment to Tasmanians to increase its share of public hospital funding to 45 per cent and we are holding Labor to that agreement.
"It's time for the Commonwealth to deliver – it has an obligation to Tasmanians to provide the care and support they deserve, and the funding for our hospitals that they agreed to."
