The utter chaos surrounding the Royal Hobart Hospital which has today seen the Tasmanian health system on the verge of collapse is a direct result of Peter Gutwein's seven years as Treasurer during which he took an axe to health.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said with the hospital today yet again gripped by crisis, the emergency department at capacity and elective surgeries being cancelled, Tasmanians were seeing the unacceptable result of Peter Gutwein's $1.6 billion in cuts to health.
"Peter Gutwein owns this crisis," Ms White said.
"Tasmania cannot survive 11 years of a Liberal government critically under-funding and under-resourcing the health and hospital system.
"Nothing Peter Gutwein has said during this election campaign will fix this crisis. Peter Gutwein has created this crisis and he has no plan to solve it.
"And for Sarah Courtney to today tell Tasmanians escalation protocols at the RHH are 'normal' is arrogant, dismissive and irresponsible - nobody should be told to accept this unacceptable situation as normal.
"There is only one choice to address this unprecedented situation and that is to elect a Labor Government which has a comprehensive plan to address health from day one."
Shadow Health Minister Dr Bastian Seidel said Peter Gutwein and Sarah Courtney's claim that the situation today was due to 'unprecedented demand' was a lie.
"The fact is Peter Gutwein has cut funding for seven years as Treasurer and is now trying to con Tasmanians that there is nothing to see here," Dr Seidel said.
"He has created a disaster and is now, typically, trying to hide the facts.
"The only way to solve the health crisis is to vote 1-5 for Labor this election."
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
Dr Bastian Seidel MLC
Shadow Minister for Health
