Australian Greens raise possibility of Launceston General Hospital funding

Greens leader Richard Di Natale will be in Launceston today to announce the policy, which has been endorsed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Tasmanian branch.

The policy proposes to re-invest $6.5 billion of taxpayers' money from the private health insurance rebate into the public health system, invest $4.7 billion over 10 years to fully lift the Medicare rebate freeze and make the Commonwealth and states equally responsible for hospital funding.

It would also invest $3.5 billion over the next four years to make dental care Medicare-funded, as well as $100 million into capital works for public hospitals.

The Greens name-checked the LGH as one of three prime candidates to receive $1 million of this capital works funding.

Senator Di Natale, himself a qualified GP, said Australia was "heading down the path to an American two-tiered health system".

"The only policy prescription is comprehensive reform that addresses the root causes," he said.

Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim said the Greens had listened to the concerns of Tasmanians and "responded with a clear plan to tackle the problem".

Bass Greens candidate Tom Hall said the policy "recognises that prevention is better than cure".

ANMF spokesman Tom Millen called on the major parties to match the Greens' health funding pledge.

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