The Tasmanian government will inject an extra $300 million into the state's troubled health system in next month's budget, delaying the state's return to surplus by a year.The Preliminary Outcomes Report shows the state’s net operating balance is more than $700 million better than projected
"The government's made a decision that we need to invest more into health and importantly we need to have additional flexibility should we see the impact of COVID in terms of a lockdown or some form of outbreak," he said.Both the health spending and the COVID contingency will be budgeted over the next four years.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation state secretary Emily Shepherd said she welcomed any funding "for a health system which is under the constant strain of unprecedented demand."Budget position better than expected The state will receive an extra $392.5 million in GST payments than expected, although deferred spending on infrastructure projects has meant that $163.7 million of national partnership payments will flow into the state's coffers in later years.Just over $90 million of unspent COVID-19 response funding was the main reason for the reduced spending, while the state government also made $46 million less than projected in payments to private hospitals.
Opportunity costs. Has anyone calculated the opportunity costs of lockdown?
How many staff does that cover? Given the federal govt provides infrastructure? More doctors? More nurses? More allied health?