Fury as $150k health executive role advertised despite public sector freeze
The Department of Health is advertising a new $150,000-a-year executive role despite a public sector hiring freeze and$702 million in mandated savings. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup. . .
The Department of Health is advertising a new $150,000-a-year executive role despite a public sector hiring freeze and$702 million in mandated savings. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website& appThe digital version ofToday'sPaperAll otherin your areaThe government defended creating the position to secure federal funding agreements, arguing hospital bed-blocking incurs a $70-million yearly burden. Inset of Jess Greene and Bridget Archer. Picture: Shutterstock/file. During question time in Parliament, Bass Labor MHA Jess Greene pressed the government over the government relations manager role and asked how it could be deemed essential while front-line healthcare services faced stringent budget caps. "Tasmanians would reasonably ask why the health department needs what amounts to an internal government lobbyist on more than $150,000 a year, when surely managing the government's relationships is already the job of the Health Minister, the department secretary, and other senior executives," she said. Treasurer Eric Abetz and Health Minister Bridget Archer defended the role, saying it was critical to lead intergovernmental negotiations for funding with Canberra and address federal shortfalls in aged care and disability support that left acute hospital beds occupied by patients awaiting discharge. Mr Abetz said overall health expenditure would increase by $583. 6 million across the budget's forward estimates. "And in relation to those that are in hospital beds that should not be in hospital beds . . . this is costing this state over $70 million per annum," he said. Ms Archer rejected the assertion that the new government relations was unnecessary. "Many of our health agreements are negotiated at an intergovernmental level," she said. "This is a critical part to provide that strategic advice as we enter into those arrangements. "Labor leader Josh Willie highlighted new Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data that showed Tasmanian emergency departments had the longest mental health wait times in the nation. He said according to the report, the median wait time for mental health patients in Tasmanian emergency departments was 48 minutes - more than double the national median of 20 minutes. Mr Willie said 35 per cent of Tasmanian mental health patients were seen within recommended time frames, down from 64 per cent a decade ago. He said front-line clinicians were concerned about the government's strategy of reclassifying vacant allied health positions - including psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers - to lower, less-experienced pay grades. Mr Abetz defended the allied health reclassifications as part of an agreed workforce development strategy with health unions to create entry pathways for new graduates while managing the state budget. "I've been advised that what is occurring is a workforce development strategy that is about future-proofing our mental health," he said. "It is about ensuring positions are appropriately classified and the teams have the right mix of skills and experience. "More from HealthAs it happensBreaking news alertBe the first to know when news breaks.