The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) is calling on Treasurer Guy Barnett to explain why the Tasmanian government considers the state’s allied health professionals “non-essential” workers.
While his announcement this week of a public sector hiring freeze (the government’s code word for job cuts) exempted doctors, nurses, paramedics, police, and teachers, vital allied health professionals were notably excluded from the exemptions.
Allied health professionals, like physiotherapists, hospital pharmacists, occupational therapists, sonographers and speech pathologists, provide essential services that directly impact patient recovery, rehabilitation and quality of life.
HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore describes the hiring freeze as an attack on Tasmania’s hospitals and health services and is urging the Treasurer to reconsider his decision.
“Every Tasmanian should be alarmed about what more cuts to our already over-stretched health system and community services will mean for them, their family and their neighbours,” he said.
“Many allied health professions in Tasmania are already facing workforce shortages, and a hiring freeze will only exacerbate these issues, leading to longer wait times and reduced access to care and crucial services.”
Following this week’s announcement, HACSU met with the State Service Management Office to seek clarification on what roles are affected, but neither the Treasurer nor the Head of the State Service attended the meeting.
HACSU is now demanding an urgent meeting with the Treasurer to not only explain what this announcement means for health and community services workers, but to guarantee allied health workers that their professions will be exempt from hiring freezes.