AFTER a bruising few months, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has moved to “reset’’ the Government’s agenda with a renewed focus on fundamental issues and a reshuffle of ministers.
He has dropped responsibility for health and taken on the portfolio State Development along with trade and tourism.
Lyons MP Guy Barnett, pictured, has been appointed as the new Health Minister.
Mr. Rockliff said he would not be defined by two individuals – Lyons MP John Tucker and Bass MP Lara Alexander who quit the Liberal Party to stand as independents – or one issue, the debate over the Macquarie Point stadium.
“By doing this, I wish to send a strong message about the priorities of the Government I lead,’’ Mr. Rockliff said.
“A confident and strong economy means we will have the resources to invest in things like cost-of-living relief, health and housing – making our state the best place to live, work and raise a family.
“After nine years of Liberal Government, Tasmania’s economy is leading the pack.
“However, Tasmania is not immune to the global and domestic economic headwinds.
“The triple threat of inflation, rising interest rates and a slowdown in the national economy is causing uncertainty and threatening both business and consumer confidence.
“That’s why I have decided now is the time that I should take on State Development, with direct responsibility for the Department of State Growth and key economic drivers within it, in particular business development.”
“This week, we again recorded a record low unemployment rate of 3.8 per cent.”
“We have the second lowest debt per capita in the nation, and we’ve done this while still having the lowest taxes of any State.’’
He said the decision to relinquish health was not taken lightly.
“Our government now invests more than $8 million each and every single day (in health),’’ he said.
“We have allocated more than $12.1 billion over the next four years – or 34 per cent of the State’s total Budget because we know how important access to quality health care is for Tasmanians.”
“In fact, because of our record investment and commitment to drive down elective surgery waiting lists, we have reduced them by more than 30 per cent since 2021.’’
He pointed to some highlights he was proud of while Health Minister, including:
• “no script no stress” initiative which helps hundreds of Tasmanians every day access their medication while easing pressure on GPs;
- the Allied Health Scholarship Program which is the most generous in the nation with a $25,000 incentive for 10 professions to fill shortages;
- the Mental Health Emergency Response, which has already supported more than 1,800 Tasmanians, with 76 per cent of those people remaining in the community and out of hospital;
- the trial of a Single Employer Model of employment for GPs in training so that we can attract and retain GPs in regional Tasmania; and
- the $475 million Digital Health Strategy which will be the single biggest transformation in healthcare this century.