SPRINGBORG CREATES DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN

Media Release 

Shadow Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says the Newman Government is turning Queensland’s health system into a disaster waiting to happen.

“Instead of growing and improving our health system, this dysfunctional LNP government is engaged in mass sackings and savage cuts to frontline services,” Mrs Miller said.

“The Premier needs to take control of this issue as soon as he lands tonight to ensure patient treatment is not compromised or people’s lives are not lost through the actions of the Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg.

“If Mr Newman has a shred of leadership credibility or authority left he will call time out to Mr Springborg’s cuts and closures.

“Already we are hearing of possible bed closures as nurses face the reality of having to do more work with fewer support staff and services.

“We have already seen the government attack elderly Queenslanders by closing nursing home beds and their target this week are sick Queensland children who will be affected by the cuts to children’s health services.

“These cuts come at the worst possible time of the year when children will soon be on Christmas holidays and the risk of injury increases. These cuts cannot help but compromise the safety of Queensland children.

“Leaked notes from the chair of the Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Board, Susan Johnston, suggest almost 90% of jobs in the area of children’s health are frontline jobs.

“The notes also suggest the board was ‘surprised and concerned’ at the scale of the cuts demanded by the Minister.

“This shows yet again that despite Mr Springborg’s best efforts to hide behind the boards, the reality is he is directly responsible for the cuts and closures being inflicted on communities across the state.

“Mr Springborg has been trying to blame regional boards for cuts imposed by him and his government.

“He has been trying to distance the government from the decisions, but the boards are part of the government and when they act or speak they are acting and speaking as the Newman Government,” Mrs Miller said.

She said efforts by Mr Springborg to blame health payroll problems for his cuts and closures were a diversionary tactic.

“There are no payroll problems in other government departments which have also faced mass sackings and savage cuts to frontline services,” Mrs Miller said.

“Mr Springborg is also indulging in Canberra-bashing to divert attention from his direct responsibilities by claiming a cut in federal funding.

“The latest figures I saw show a 21% rise in federal health funding to Queensland over the next four years, equal to a $600 million increase from $3.1 billion to $3.7 billion in 2015-16.”