Jeremy Rockliff confident Northern Health Complex won’t face same issues as Royal Hobart Hospital

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has provided further details about a major new health complex promised for Tasmania. READ THE LATEST >>>

Liberal Bass candidate Bridget Archer, Bass member Rob Fairs, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Luke Cameron from St Lukes. Picture: Alison Foletta

After unveiling plans for a new Northern Health Complex at the Liberals’ campaign launch on Sunday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has released further details about the $240m project.

The new complex is a key component of the 10-year, $647.5m redevelopment of the Launceston General Hospital.

Mr Rockliff said the complex would be the result of a public and private partnership.

“We will build a seven-storey health complex to support a mix of both private and public health services,” he said.

“We’re bringing it forward because we recognise the increase in health demand.”

The project has $100m budgeted for it, with the remaining funds to be contained in future budgets.

Mr Rockliff said having public and private health services come together would help attract health workers to the area.

Liberal Bass candidate Bridget Archer, Bass member Rob Fairs, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Luke Cameron from St Luke’s. Picture: Alison Foletta

There has been a net increase of 880 health professionals across Tasmania since the start of 2024.

Construction is set to commence in 2028 following the completion of the new dedicated Northern Mental Health Precinct at Frankland Street.

The Northern Health Complex will be funded through reprioritised capital from the Marinus Link project in the 2025-26 Budget.

Mr Rockliff said this project would not face the same issues as the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) redevelopment.

“This will absolutely go to plan,” he said.

Mr Rockliff said he could “guarantee” this project would not face the cost blow-out and scale-back as the RHH revamp.

St Luke's chief health officer Luke Cameron said a private and public partnership would attract more specialists to the North, which would mean better health outcomes.

He said the private sector was facing pressure due to the elective surgery backlog.

“What we know is around 80 per cent of all elective surgery happens in the private sector - having a co-located facility allows both public and private departments to be closer together to be able to really deliver on more elective surgery,” Mr Cameron said.