The 2025-26 Budget will deliver a record cash injection into Tasmania's health system to ensure it can continue to meet demand and provide the essential services Tasmanians expect and deserve.
Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma, previewed the health investment in this week's Budget, announcing that $14.5 billion will be invested in the health system over the next four years – a boost of $1.6 billion on last year's figures.
"This means that each and every day, we are investing a record nearly $10 million into our health system," Minister Petrusma said.
"Investment in health now accounts for 34 per cent of the State's total operating budget.
"As part of our record investment and acknowledging that demand for health services is increasing, an additional $880 million will be invested over the next four years specifically to meet demand on health services - reflecting our ongoing commitment to ensure Tasmanians have access to healthcare in the right place, at the right time.
"This increase is in addition to our significant investments to attract and retain staff, continue our primary care initiatives, deliver more oral health appointments and enhance outpatient access."
The 2025-26 Budget will include over $70 million over the next four years to implement the Tasmanian Government's new Four Year Elective Surgery Plan 2025-2029 – which follows our first four-year plan which has seen a record number of elective surgeries delivered, and the highest per capita admission rate for elective surgery of any state or territory.
"The Tasmanian Health System has been delivering record volumes of elective surgeries and endoscopies. In the last financial year alone, our hospitals carried out more than 22,000 elective surgeries, on top of the emergency surgeries and procedures required," Minister Petrusma said.
"This targeted investment ensures we can continue this momentum so more Tasmanians can receive their procedures sooner.
"The Budget will also include significant investment as the Government continues to redevelop all four of the State's major hospitals, with $663.5 million over the next four years for hospitals and health infrastructure, including the construction of three new dedicated mental health precincts."
Treasurer Guy Barnett said the 2025-26 Budget builds a better Tasmania: now, and for the future by investing in the things that matter to Tasmanians, including health.
"This Budget gets the balance right, with a record $14.5 billion investment over the next four years into health – what Tasmanians care about the most," the Treasurer said.
"Our significant investment into health will ensure we can meet current and future demand, continue delivering new, world-class health infrastructure across our State and continue our recruitment blitz for frontline health workers.
"The Budget delivers exactly what we said we would do in our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, and will meet the needs of Tasmanians."
