Patient cost scheme
AN ELECTED Labor Government will expand the Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) to remove all costs for Bass Strait Islands patients traveling to access healthcare and set up a PTAS office on the island.
Under the current scheme, there are limits to travel for concession cardholders and significant gaps in coverage for all patients including a cap on the rate of subsidy for accommodation.
Non-concession cardholders are also required to pay the first $82.50 on each return journey traveled (up to $330 a year) and the first two nights of any accommodation.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said a Labor Government will remove the co-payment requirement for non-concession cardholders from the Bass Strait Islands, cover all accommodation costs and work to speed up reimbursements, as well as allowing for more travel to be booked by PTAS staff. “Labor will also work with the King Island Council to have a PTAS office on the island, as well as ensuring the King Island community has a permanent paramedic to meet their emergency healthcare needs, “ she said.
“Bass Strait Islanders are crying out for affordable healthcare, especially in a cost-of-living crisis, and Labor’s plan to expand PTAS will deliver financial support to Tasmanians who need it most.”
Lunch pledge
TASMANIAN Labor has announced they will provide free school lunches for Tasmanian primary school students if they win the state election. The announcement is part of Labor plans for a better future and addresses the Tasmanian cost of living crisis.
Labor pledges that, if elected, it will provide universal, free, healthy school lunches at every Tasmanian government primary school which will save two-children families up to $4000 a year.
The program will roll out to all schools by 2030, with funding to be in addition to existing school budgets. “Under a Labor Government we will provide free, healthy lunches for all children in the state’s primary schools – improving kids’ wellbeing and saving families thousands of dollars a year,” Ms White said.
“Labor’s free school lunches program will save families with two children up to $4,000 a year.
“It will also take a massive load off parents’ shoulders – enabling them to kiss goodbye to lunchboxes and the dreaded morning routine of organising and packing food for the day.
“We also know that two thirds of teachers have reported seeing students coming to school hungry.
“Labor’s free school lunches plan will support children’s development and learning, concentration levels, behaviour and school attendance and achievement.”