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🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Tasmanian Health Groups Slam "Unrealistic" $700M in Budget Cuts

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Tasmania's Health Department faces a significant challenge to find $702.61 million in "operational efficiencies" over four years, as part of a broader public service savings target.
  • Health groups, including the AMA and nursing federations, criticize the cuts as unrealistic and disconnected from the system's growing demands and inflation.
  • The Health Minister denies any cuts to health funding, stating that expenditure is set to rise, while critics point to the specific savings targets as evidence of impending program or staff reductions.

Tasmanian health groups are sounding the alarm over what they describe as "completely unrealistic" cuts to the Health Department, demanding that the government acknowledge the severe implications for patient care. The state budget, presented by Treasurer Eric Abetz, mandates that the Health Department find $702.61 million in "operational efficiencies" over the next four years, a substantial portion of the public service's overall $1.47 billion savings target.

We know we need to find efficiencies, but it's impossible to find efficiencies when we don't have the resources to care for patients in 2026.

· Dr Michael Lumsden-SteelAustralian Medical Association representative expressing concern over the feasibility of health budget cuts.

Representatives from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Tasmania have voiced strong opposition. Dr. Michael Lumsden-Steel of the AMA stated that the expenditure targets "do not reflect the reality of what we're spending," adding that finding such efficiencies is impossible without adequate resources to care for patients. He noted that budget reviews within the healthcare system are often met with disbelief, with many considering the targets a "joke."

Every doctor I know that's involved in the healthcare system that's got a budget they look at — they laugh at it and they think this is a joke.

· Dr Michael Lumsden-SteelAustralian Medical Association representative describing the reaction of healthcare professionals to the budget targets.

Emily Shepherd, secretary of the ANMF Tasmania, echoed these concerns, highlighting a "complete disconnect between the existing challenges occurring within the health system, and the current budget." She warned that these savings targets would inevitably increase the workload for nurses and midwives, exacerbating existing pressures within the system.

She flagged it would only increased the current workload for nurse and midwives in the system.

· Emily ShepherdSecretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmania, warning about the impact of cuts on healthcare staff.

Despite these criticisms, Health Minister Bridget Archer maintains that the budget demonstrates continued growth in health funding and insists "there are no cuts to health." However, Treasurer Abetz has confirmed the Health Department's participation in the "operational efficiencies" program, which necessitates eliminating programs or staff to meet the savings goal. Labor has seized on this, labeling the cuts as evident "in black and white" and calling on Minister Archer to "correct the record" regarding her claims.

There are no cuts to health.

· Bridget ArcherTasmanian Health Minister's statement denying that the budget includes cuts to health funding.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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