With our health system clearly beyond crisis point, Labor has welcomed the Government's incredible change of tune in announcing an expansion of the Emergency Department review.
Last week, when Labor won the support of the parliament in establishing a review into the Launceston General Hospital's emergency department, Minister for Health Guy Barnett reverted to his trademark move and tried to gaslight Tasmanians into thinking it was a stunt.
"It is a disgrace for state Labor to be doing this right here, right now because it is putting fear and anxiety into the people of Tasmania," he said.
Thankfully, the Parliament saw through the Minister's feeble attempts and ignored him, voting for the review anyway.
Since then, we've seen Tasmanians being told to stay away from our major hospitals because they couldn't cope with the number of people needing help, with patients also told to consider leaving early to free up space.
Now, less than a week on from his embarrassing reaction to Labor trying to do what the Liberals won't and improve the failing health system - Barnett has backflipped completely.
While this change in tune is welcome, it is entirely indicative of a government that after 10 years in power, has run out of ideas to fix the burning issues in Tasmania.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing
