Labor Health spokeswoman Catherine King announced Labor would provide $2.3 million over three years to allow the at-risk Palliative Care Tasmania to continue its work as part of a four-year, $35 million national palliative care plan.

The service is only funded until 2017, and says it requires federal or state funding by September to ensure its long-term existence. 

PCT general manager Colleen Johnstone said earlier this month that the service would lobb both major political parties to make future funding an election commitment. 

The service has educated more than 7000 people in the past 18 months.

Ms King said previous Labor funding of Palliative Care Tasmania to boost education and awareness about palliative care, grief and bereavement had had a huge impact.

“A Shorten Labor Government will give Palliative Care Tasmania the ongoing funding it has earned,” Ms King said.

“Labor will continue to study the organisation’s work and evaluate it for possible national roll out.” 

Central to Labor’s announcement was $21.7 million to find fund new Palliative Care at Home packages.

Ms King said the program was designed to decrease the discrepancy between the up-to 70 per cent of Australians who wish to die at home, and the 14 per cent who do so.

Under the packages, Primary Health Networks would be funded to commission services including pain management and carer training and support.

Ms King said the packages would support up to 4000 Australians to live and die in their preferred setting.

She said Tasmania would receive one of five Primary Health Network funding packages, replacing the Hospice at Home program funded under the Tasmanian Health Assistance Package. 

Labor would also provide $9 million to allow palliative care specialists to partner with residential aged care facilities to promote palliative and end-of-life care.