Abbott’s Secret Plan to Sack 6,000 Health Workers Revealed
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has commented on Coalition plans for front line health jobs.
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23 November 2012
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has slammed the Coalition over its secret plan to cut front line health jobs, and raised concerns Tony Abbott is planning to gut vital health agencies such as Cancer Australia.
Ms Plibersek said Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton had admitted he was planning to slash 6,000 jobs, including 3,000 front line health jobs provided through Medicare Locals including doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, outreach workers, Aboriginal health workers and care coordinators.
“Peter Dutton has belled the cat on how he and Tony Abbott would slash and burn front line health jobs if they ever got into power,” said Ms Plibersek.
“There is now absolutely no doubt that under a Coalition Government patients would suffer and the standard of care would be downgraded as health services were ripped out of local communities.”
“I am extremely concerned this is just the tip of the iceberg and Mr Abbott and Mr Dutton are also planning to gut other vital health services such as Cancer Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Ms Plibersek said Mr Dutton had quietly revealed his plan in an interview with the health blog Croakey, where he is quoted saying 6,000 health jobs faced the axe.
- “They may be well intentioned, but we can’t afford . . . over 6,000 people in the department and portfolio agencies and over an estimated 3,000 people employed across Medicare Locals,” said Mr Dutton.
Just as predicted, Ms Plibersek said Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton were following the lead of Coalition premiers in Queensland, NSW and Victoria who are currently sacking thousands of health workers and cutting millions from their health budgets.
“Tony Abbott has said he supports the jobs cuts in health in states like Queensland and now we know why. If he ever becomes prime minister, he will do exactly the same thing.”
Ms Plibersek said Medicare Locals placed decision making in the hands of local communities. They provide services such as after hour services, psychology services, childhood immunisations services and allied health services in rural and remote areas.
“Medicare Locals are delivering home-grown solutions to local health problems and making it easier for Australians to see a health professional, closer to home.”
“For example, the Lower Murray Medicare Local has teamed up with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to help transport Indigenous people with chronic conditions living in remote communities to medical appointments.”
And from 1 July next year, Medicare Locals will be funded specifically to ensure that people have improved access to after-hours services, regardless of where they live.
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