More Health cuts target critical services

Media Release.

The LNP Government has again taken its axe to frontline health services attempting to shift the blame to the Federal Government, Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller said.

Mrs Miller said Health Minister Lawrence Springborg had today slashed funding to non-government agencies, attacking support for primary and preventative health across the state.

“After sacking more than 4,000 people in his department and attacking frontline services, the Health Minister today comes out and digs the knife in even deeper by cutting the funding to critical health care,” Mrs Miller said.

“To add insult to injury, the Health Minister then attempts to hide behind what are clearly his cuts by claiming they are not in fact cuts but a transfer of responsibility to the Federal Government.

“First he tries to hide behind regional health boards, now he tries to blame others for his savage funding cuts.

“This government can attempt to dress it up anyway they want but Queenslanders see right through that – these are cuts, make no mistake and it is time for this government to take responsibility for its actions.

“And they announce this on the same day they release a short-list of developers to build the Premier’s new office tower in William Street.”

Mrs Miller said today’s cuts were in important areas such as preventative health, areas where the Health Minister has already sacked more than 150 people.

“Preventative health programs are designed to stop people getting sick before they need the services of our hospitals and medical community.

“By cutting them, you increase the burden on our public health system.

“But it’s typical of this mean, cold-hearted and short sighted government that they would slash and axe and burn vital services without consultation and certainly without anything even resembling a vision for the future.”