Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff has admitted he has not formally approached the Federal Government to fund the $580 million Launceston General Hospital redevelopment.
Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow said Minister Rockliff's less than half-hearted efforts were revealed in Budget Estimates on Monday.
"The Launceston General Hospital upgrade was a major commitment by the Gutwein Government and is totally dependent on funding from Canberra," Ms Dow said.
"There is not a single dollar in this government's Budget for the upgrades and now Minister Rockliff has revealed the Liberals went to the election with no commitment from their Federal colleagues and not so much as a token approach to Canberra."
Ms Dow said Minister Rockliff told the Estimates hearing he had discussed the issue "briefly" with Member for Bass Bridget Archer, a pointless exercise because Ms Archer has absolutely no sway or influence over how Federal health funding is committed and has been an abject failure in the past at lobbying the Morrison Government on Tasmania's behalf.
"The Minister also said he "mentioned" the project to the Federal Health Minister during a "conversation".
"That's it. No approach. No formal request. No regard for the urgency the situation requires considering the LGH has the worst bed block in the country.
"This is a pitiful non-effort by Rockliff and he needs to tell northern Tasmania when he intends to get serious about this crucial project. These upgrades were promised with great fanfare but have not been followed up and look likely not to get underway for a decade, unless of course there is a Federal Election campaign."
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
