Health Minister accuses nurses, doctors, paramedics of lying

When Eric Abetz handed down his budget with $700 million worth of cuts to health in it¹, there was widespread concern from the health sector, including nurses, doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers.

The ANMF said: “With three quarters of a billion dollars being stripped from the health budget over the next four years the budget papers are simply horrifying for our members working within health.”

HACSU said: “The healthcare system has already been cut to the bone, we are really running on fumes as it is already.”

The AMA said: “To cut money from health is further going to see patient harm for Tasmanians.”

The Treasurer then doubled down the cuts when speaking to the Poll Position podcast:

HOST: “Just to be clear, you do want to find $700 million from health over the next four years.”

ABETZ: “What we want to do is find the necessary savings, and we’re confident we can do that from the back office.”

HOST: “$700 million worth?”

ABETZ: “We believe that we can achieve those savings, and, if that’s what the actual figure is in the forward estimates, if it’s 700 then that’s what we’re pursuing, yep.”

When Bridget Archer says there are “no cuts to health”, she isn’t just lying to Tasmanians, she’s accusing the state’s nurses, doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers of lying too.

These people work incredibly hard to look after Tasmanians, and it is bitterly disappointing they have a Minister who is more interested in spin than protecting the fragile health system from Eric Abetz’s cuts.