Ross Hart (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I spoke recently in the Federation Chamber to acknowledge the achievements of St.LukesHealth. It was recently recognised by Roy Morgan Research in its 2016 Customer Satisfaction Awards and was awarded the title of Private Health Insurer of the Year. Notwithstanding the fantastic efforts in customer service of St.LukesHealth, there are some significant constraints within my electorate on access to private health care.

The private health system and private health insurance play a key role in supporting the public health system. Labor strongly believes and affirms the importance of a public universal health system. In many markets, those who have private health insurance are able to access a fully functioning private alternative, thereby fulfilling the object of taking pressure off the public system.

In Northern Tasmania, we have recently lost access to maternity services for postnatal care, with the closure of the St Vincent's postnatal unit, and there is no private emergency department in Launceston, despite there being two private hospitals.

I acknowledge the good work of staff and specialists; however, much more needs to be done to ensure the full range of services is available in private health care in Northern Tasmania, supporting the stressed public healthcare system. Other areas have competing operators delivering innovation and new services. Launceston, and Northern Tasmania, need further investment in both our public and private healthcare systems to enable stress to be taken off the public hospital system.