Media release: Wednesday 7 July 2025
As the snap Tasmanian state election approaches, the Heart Foundation is calling for all parties and candidates to commit to three key actions to tackle the state’s biggest killer: heart disease.
According to the Tasmanian Department of Health:
The Heart Foundation is calling for investment in three cost-effective initiatives that will, with support from the next Tasmanian Government, ensure that everyone in the state can have the help they need to prevent, detect and/or manage their heart health.
The initiatives are:
The Heart Foundation is calling on the next Tasmanian Government to back a bold, lifesaving vision for heart health across the state. With heart disease remaining Tasmania’s leading cause of death, now is the time for decisive action and investment to turn the tide.
David Lloyd
Heart Foundation CEO
“These initiatives are aligned with the 2024 Tasmanian Cardiac Strategy’s approach to delivering change for Tasmanians and will help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease for Tasmania’s people, health system and economy.”
“These initiatives are ready to go. All they need is the political will to make them a reality. We call on all parties—and especially the party that forms the next government—to commit to these vital heart health investments.”
All three Heart Foundation initiatives align with the Tasmanian Government’s Tasmanian Cardiac Strategy (2024):
The Heart Foundation is proposing a state-wide, multi-channel campaign tailored specifically for Tasmanians. Delivered across social, digital, print, radio, and at major events like AgFest, this campaign will raise awareness about heart health and encourage more people to visit their GP for a Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Check. This initiative will help reduce hospital admissions by promoting prevention and early detection.
The Northern Heart Centre at Launceston General Hospital has the potential to transform cardiac care in Northern Tasmania. With joint investment from the Tasmanian and Australian Governments, this project can guarantee:
The Heart Foundation is seeking support to scale up its free, digital support program — MyHeart MyLife — to be tailored for Tasmanians living with heart disease. This includes:
Every day in each state and territory, we are advocating to government and industry to improve heart health.
The Heart Foundation is calling on Tasmanian political parties and candidates to make clear and decisive pre-election commitments to tackle heart disease.
The Heart Foundation today welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s announcement that it will work to strengthen vaping legislation to ensure only adults can obtain a vape from a pharmacy by way of a prescription from their GP – and children not at all.
Last updated09 July 2025