Tasmania's Liberal election candidates are talking up their commitment to health, as the state's health system shapes as a key issue in the upcoming federal poll.
The Liberals used a press conference billed as a "significant announcement regarding AFL funding" to emphasise that health funding would be a higher priority.
Liberal senator Richard Colbeck said in order to spend more money on improving Tasmania's health system, a Liberal Government would not match Labor's pledge of $25 million to encourage the AFL to set up a Tasmanian team.
"For the Liberal party the priority is not to put $25 million into an AFL team, it's to prioritise things that mean a lot to our community, such as health," Senator Colbeck said.
Voter dissatisfaction about Tasmania's health system was a factor in the Liberals losing the northern seats of Bass, Braddon and Lyons at the 2016 federal election.
Seeking to convince voters the Liberals would be better stewards of the state's hospitals and healthcare than Labor, Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week promised a $92 million dollar Tasmanian Health Plan, which would boost funding for elective surgery, mental health care, maternity services and breast cancer diagnosis.
Labor MP in the seat of Lyons Brian Mitchell agreed health would be a top priority for Tasmanian voters when they go to the polls on May 18.
But he was unimpressed with the Liberals' explanation for refusing to match Labor's AFL funding pledge.
"The ALP can walk and chew gum at the same time," Mr Mitchell said.
"We will fund $2.8 billion dollars for public hospitals and healthcare, putting back the money the Liberals have taken out, and we will fund AFL footy in Tasmania."
Emergency department death sharpens focus on health funding
The scrutiny of Tasmania's health system has been increased by the death last week of a 71-year-old man in the Royal Hobart Hospital's Emergency Department.
State Labor has blamed the Tasmanian Government for bed block at the hospital.
"There is a $100 million black hole in health funding in Tasmania and we are now seeing as a result of that, literally people are dying," Labor's health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said.
In a statement, Tasmanian Health Minister Michael Ferguson accused Labor of insensitivity and using the man's death for political gain.
He said the Government could not comment on the incident while its subject to an internal hospital investigation and a coronial inquiry.
