Liberals pledge $2m towards upgrade of Queenborough Oval facilities to end ‘carpark change room’
The days of sportswomen having to get changed in the carpark could be over under a Liberal pledge to upgrade facilities at a popular suburban sports ground.
Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A HOBART sports ground – where females have to get changed in the carpark – is set for an upgrade if the Liberals are re-elected.
Liberal member for Clark Elise Archer announced on Saturday the Liberals would spend $2m on the redevelopment of Queenborough Oval at Sandy Bay.
Ms Archer said stage one of the project would include the demolition of the existing grandstand and clubrooms and construction of new change rooms to incorporate facilities for female participants, a function room and match-day facilities.
“This funding will go towards upgrading this much-utilised sporting facility, ensuring it is fit for purpose and meets community expectations,” she said.
Push to upgrade outdated facilities at Queenborough Oval
‘Postcode envy’: Funding push for rundown precinct
The redevelopment’s total cost is estimated at $6.7m and Ms Archer said the remaining funding would be sought in collaboration from the Hobart City Council and the federal government.
Labor launches big-spending health fix
LABOR has unveiled its latest pledge in a big-spending plan to fix the state’s ailing health system, committing $390 million to accelerate the redevelopment of the Hobart repatriation hospital site.
The party has promised that if they are elected, construction at the Davey St site would begin on the first day of its term and would be completed by 2025 under a four-year funding model.
Redevelopment of the site as a second campus of the Royal Hobart Hospital is the third stage of the RHH’s 30-year master plan, which was published in March 2019.
Labor’s plan includes a state-of-the-art mental health facility, new day surgery and endoscopy unit, and new rehabilitation and palliative inpatient care units.
It would allow for 85 additional beds and an ambitious construction timeline would have patients being treated within two years of the commencement of the project.
It comes after the Mercury revealed Labor would spend $137m to tackle the state’s out-of-control elective surgery and outpatient waiting lists if the party took office on May 1. (See below)
Labor health spokesman Bastian Seidel said Tasmanian hospitals had the worst wait times for specialist beds in the country.
“Let’s face it, our health system has been neglected under this Liberal government for the last seven years,” he said.
“And the consequences are so disappointing to so many Tasmanians.”
Labor leader Rebecca White said the biggest issue facing Tasmanian public hospitals was a lack of space.
She said the party’s plan to redevelop the repatriation hospital site would allow the transfer of key services from the RHH, freeing up space for more emergency and specialist beds.
“The announcements the government made over the last few days around health have come too late,” Ms White said.
“They could have made those announcements and invest that funding into health over the last seven years to prevent the catastrophic situation we’re seeing in our health system.
“Too many Tasmanians are living in pain because they are waiting to access the health care they need, or in absolutely terrible circumstances, some people are dying.”
Labor’s pledge on health includes recruitment of an additional 65 permanent doctors, and an additional 150 nurses and midwives.
The Liberals have announced a further $110 million for new facilities and health services under an expanded $200 million second stage of the RHH redevelopment.
They have also pledged $154 million over four years to tackle the elective surgery waiting list, which they promised would deliver an additional 22,300 elective surgeries and endoscopies.
State election a one-horse race, say bookies
BOOKMAKERS have installed the Liberal Party at Winx-like odds to win next month’s state election.
There is little value on offer for punters interested in backing Premier Peter Gutwein’s team to be returned to government on May 1.
The odds resemble those seen throughout the career of the champion racehorse Winx, which won four consecutive Cox Plates before being retired.
TAB has the Liberals at $1.18 to win the election, Labor is at $4.50 with a $51 quote offered for the Greens.
A TAB spokesman said one punter had placed $1000 on Labor to win at that quote, which was the biggest bet placed on the election so far.
He said there was limited interest among punters to date.
On Sportsbet, the Liberals are even shorter at $1.10 to win government, with Labor at $6 and the Greens at $51.
In the Legislative Council election for Derwent, incumbent Labor MLC Craig Farrell — the president of the Legislative Council — is a slight $1.75 favourite with the TAB.
The Liberal Party, represented by Derwent Valley Mayor Ben Shaw, is at $2.
In Windermere, television personality Nick Duigan is the $1.25 favourite.
The TAB is offering $4.50 for one of three independents to win, with Labor’s Geoff Lyons the outside at $17.
Labor’s $137m plan to tackle health woes
LABOR will today shift its election campaign up a gear with a big-spending plan to fix the state’s struggling health system.
Opposition leader Rebecca White will unveil a $137m pledge to tackle the state’s out-of-control elective surgery and outpatient waiting lists if Labor takes office on May 1.
In contrast to he Liberals’ plan — costed at $154m — Ms White said Labor would employ six times as many doctors, boost the number of appointments and slash waiting times.
It is expected to be the first in a series of major health announcements by the opposition party.
Ms White said waiting lists had blown out by 70 per cent since 2018 and sick and suffering Tasmanians could not afford another four years of Liberal government.
“Tasmania’s health system simply will not survive under more neglect and a continued, determined lack of action by the Gutwein government,” Ms White told the Mercury.
“That is why this election is so vital – Tasmanians have a crucial choice between Labor’s plan to solve this mess or more of the same broken promises and thought bubbles from the Liberals.
“Our fully costed $137 million plan will mean more doctors, more appointments and less waiting.
“It means more people will receive the health care they when they need it and closer to home, providing a higher standard of care.”
Labor’s pledge would involve the employment of an additional 65 permanent doctors – including 35 medical specialists and 30 surgical specialists – across the state, plus an additional 150 nurses and midwives.
Labor health spokesman Bastian Seidel said the plan would also prioritise screening for patients with suspected cancer, guaranteeing they would be seen within two weeks.
“Under the Gutwein government, nationally agreed targets, particularly in relation to bowel cancer, are not being met, with less than 20 per cent of referred patients with suspected cancer being seen on time,” Dr Seidel said.
“The fact is every election the Liberals attempt to con Tasmanians that they will throw more and more taxpayers’ money to fix the crisis they have created in Tasmania’s hospitals, but Tasmanians end up with more of the same chaos.
“The Gutwein government has now tried it on again, attempting to roll out health policy which really does question why they have failed to invest in health over the last seven years. In the meantime, tens of thousands of Tasmanians are literally living in pain every day waiting to access health care, and in some terrible circumstances, literally dying.”
Independent Garland breaks silence over no-confidence vote
Independent MP Craig Garland could hold Deputy Premier’s fate in his hands with the opposition pushing for a vote of no-confidence. Here’s what he had to say.
Best thing we can do is show how to get along
Here in the new world, we should strive to become an example to the old world rather than its reflection, writes Charles Wooley