Today’s three daily newspapers contain yet more taxpayer funded propaganda from the Health Minister, Lara Giddings.

The ¼ page ads, which direct Tasmanians to the latest three monthly so-called “Progress Chart” from the Health Minister, gratuitously spruik alleged improvements in the health system.

If you believed these ads, you would think it was all good news and that our health system was working well - when all know this not to be the case.

If these ads were anything other than the taxpayer funded Labor Party propaganda that they are, they would also include these relevant facts from the Report, which showed:

·      Hospital waiting lists are up 31.6% since Labor took office in 1998.
·      Waiting lists for dentures have shot through the roof, with 2449 now waiting compared to 531 in 2006 – an increase of 361%, and waiting lists for general dental care are up by 22%.
·      Those waiting for public housing has again increased to 3162, up from 1248 when Labor took office 11 years ago. That’s an increase of 153%, and the average waiting time for category 1 (those who are homeless) is now approaching half a year.
·      There have been 31.9% more children coming into care through neglect and abuse, although notifications have decreased significantly.  This would seem to indicate that the notifications are more serious and resulting in children being removed. 
·      And for disability services, waiting lists for supported accommodation – and only those in urgent need are kept – has increased by 38.7%. 

Ms Giddings must reveal how much taxpayer money has been spent on this Labor Party propaganda.

On top of this, the November edition of the so-called “Progress Chart” referred to in the ads isn’t even available on the weblink the advertisement direct people are to.

Talk about more Labor incompetence.