Government dodges attempts to define ‘frontline workers’

Doctors, nurses and paramedics, but who else fits the bill of a frontline worker? The state government on whether other jobs in the health sector will be abolished.

Attorney-General Guy Barnett speaks to the media in Parliament Square in Hobart on Wednesday June 19, 2024.

Tasmania will have more doctors, nurses and paramedics this time next year — but the state government won’t say whether other jobs in the health sector will be abolished.

The Department of Health has set up a vacancy control committee “to assist with budget repair” after a significant cost blowout.

The minority Liberal government has to date steadfastly resisted all attempts to identify which health jobs aside from doctors, nurses and paramedics would be exempt from being abolished under vacancy control measures.

But it has promised no cuts to “frontline roles” — without being able to say what they are.

Health Minister Guy Barnett on Wednesday said he was waiting to be told by his department.

“In terms of frontline workers, let’s be very clear. There will be no cuts,” he said.

”We are on a recruitment blitz for more doctors, more nurses more, paramedics.

”It’s clear this time next year, there will be more doctors, nurses and paramedics. Let me make that very clear.”

Mr Barnett said the Department of Health would decide which roles were surplus to requirements and inform him.

“In terms of you’ve asked the question about the definition of frontline workers we’ll be relying on the advice of the experts in the Department of Health,” he said.

“And I look forward to receiving that advice and of course, the department acting on that advice, but let’s be very clear, the government’s position is clear: we’re going to have more frontline workers. There’ll be no cuts to frontline workers.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff came under questioning from Labor in state parliament on Wednesday about whether radiologists, child health workers, and dentists were considered non-frontline roles.

He did not directly answer the questions, but accused Labor of being “all scare, no solutions”.

Mr Barnett was asked similar questions by the Greens

“The government will rely on the advice of the experts … it’s inappropriate for me as minister to dictate what is or is not a frontline worker,” he said.