Issues surrounding regional health were front and centre at the Break O’Day Council’s April meeting.
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A notice of motion put forward by Councillor Janet Drummond regarding the restoration of funding for preventative health services was passed unanimously.
The council will now ask the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly to lobby the federal government to reinstate cash for health care which was redistributed in the 2016-17 budget.
Cr Drummond told the council the changes to the government’s funding highlighted “the move away from funding of preventative health services and the transferring of funds to the area of chronic health conditions”.
In seconding the motion, Cr Hannah Rubenach-Quinn said it would be good to have a consolidated voice fighting to restore the funding.
“Undoubtedly there are other areas that are as affected as we are throughout Australia,” she said.
Cr Rubenach-Quinn also brought a notice of motion to the meeting seeking a report into ways the council could support the NDIS roll out.
“We are running out of time and there will be many within our municipality who become eligible in a years time … there is predicted jobs growth in the disability sector due to the NDIS and I think we need to get something happening here, it is the role of councils to provide for the health and welfare [of ratepayers],” she said.
“During 2018 everyone in Tasmania assessed as eligible for the NDIS between the ages of 0-49 will be allocated a package. This will extend to those aged up to 64 by mid 2019.”
While there was discussion around the council table about whether the decision could lead to a “push down” on councils to further manage health services on a limited budget, the motion was passed.
A petition was also recieved by the council regarding Hub4Health, which “currently offers a large range of clinical health and social services throughout the Break O’Day municipality.”
The council agreed to forward the petition to the state and federal governments, lobbying the residents concerns over “a reduction in funding will result in a cut in many of the services”.