A Rebecca White Labor Government has pledged to provide King Islanders with better services to improve health, housing and education outcomes as well as childcare options and cost-of-living relief.
“As well as upgrading the King Island District Hospital, we will employ nurse practitioners, allied health, and more nurses to provide better access to care on the island,” Ms Dow said.
“We will also pay the HECS-HELP debt of 150 new health workers, or provide up to a $20,000 superannuation boost, for healthcare workers who commit to three years or more working in one of Tasmania’s 18 regional hospitals, including King Island.
“We will also ensure King Islanders have a permanent paramedic, and a Labor government will expand the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) to remove all costs for King Island patients travelling to access healthcare.”
Earlier in the election campaign, Labor committed to a PTAS officer to be based on the island.
“It was a suggestion from the council during our meetings and information that they provided to us around their priorities for King Island,” Ms Dow told King Island Radio.
LABOR Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Anita Dow MP.
“It might be that the person does other roles in local government as well and is available to assist people around PTAS as well. I think it would be very useful and the feedback I have had is to have someone here on the ground.
“Labor’s teacher incentives for remote and regional schools will also help King Island District High School attract and keep teachers, with increased annual payments for teachers working there, with the island’s primary school children to receive free, healthy school lunches.
“King Island is in line to benefit from Labor’s expanded childcare services around the state. All islanders will pay a Tasmanian price for Tasmanian power under Labor, and our GameChanger scheme will enable eligible King Island residents to buy a house with zero deposit.
“And we will work in partnership with local government and industry to provide rental homes for in-demand essential workers here on King Island and other regional areas around the state.
“It’s always great to be on King Island, but I know the community is hurting with the impact of the drought and a Labor Government will provide practical as well as financial assistance and advocacy as part of a drought relief response on the island as a matter of urgency – after having to wait until an election campaign to get any commitments from the Liberals.”
Ms Dow said a Labor Government will make a ministerial directive to review TasPorts, including the John Duigan shipping service.
“We will provide $200,000 for a study into using overburden from the Grassy Mine to redevelop the King Island port. Labor will provide funding to the swimming association of King Island to replace pool blankets for energy efficiency,” she said.
“After 10 years of Liberal government, King Islanders deserve a better future. A Tasmanian Labor Government will deliver that for all King Islanders.”