Labor health spokesman Bastian Seidel said, if elected, the Labor government would fund a $7.5 million level two maternity service which would allow for deliveries above 37 weeks, as announced on April 12.

"We are committed to making it work," he said. "We are employing permanent medical specialists to work on this. We are employing midwives and nurses to do that and we are employing them permanently.

"It is about having the right practitioners to provide the right services this growing community needs."

However, the Australian Medical Association claimed it would be "unsafe" due to the absence of an ICU, 24 hours obstetric or pediatric support and emergency theatre teams available.

Under a Labor government there would be 15 permanent positions for nurses and midwives at the MCH and seven permanent specialist medical practitioners, in addition to the existing medical doctors.

Dr Seidel said the hospital would be able to attract new staff by offering permanent positions.

"We know there is a huge interest to work at the Mersey Hospital as long as we are able to offer permanent employment," he said. "Currently there is hardly any advertising for positions here."

Federal shadow health minister Mark Butler backs Labor leader Rebecca White's commitment to returning maternity services to the Latrobe-based hospital.

"It is quite clear to me that health care is the number one election issue for this part of Tasmania," he said.

"People should be able to receive health care where they live and when they need it. There is nothing is more important than maternity services in the community."

Ms White said health care was the number one election issue with Braddon candidates hearing that residents wanted maternity services to return to the hospital.

"This is a growing local government area with the third fastest growing population in the state," she said.

"More families are coming to this region, yet the maternity services that were once here have been taken away.

"The Labor Party has a health action plan that will invest in our nurses, our doctors and allied health professionals as well as the services that Tasmanians deserve."