Silent Springborg Proved Wrong On Cuts

 Media Release.

 

Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says Health Minister Lawrence Springborg’s explanation for his cuts and closures at Prince Charles Hospital has been debunked after it was revealed beds have secretly been closing there since the LNP’s State Budget in September last year.

Mrs Miller said Mr Springborg, who failed to attend today’s protest against his cuts, had attempted to mislead Queenslanders by blaming Federal Government “cuts” for the closure of more than 10 beds and slashing of 24 nursing positions at Prince Charles Hospital, despite the fact federal health funding to the state would rise 21% or by $600 million in the next four years.

“If Mr Springborg bothered to attend today’s rally he would have heard the Queensland Nurses Union’s reveal that beds were closed at Prince Charles Hospital well before Mr Springborg dreamt up his claims about federal funding,” Mrs Miller said.

“The Assistant Health Minister, local LNP Member for Stafford and former doctor at the Prince Charles Hospital Chris Davis also failed to attend the rally and provide an explanation for the cuts to his former colleagues and constituents.

“Mr Springborg’s pathetic attempt to indulge in Bjelke-Petersen-style Canberra-bashing to disguise his own cuts to frontline services and staff at Prince Charles Hospital is deplorable.

“The fact that he could not even be bothered to attend the rally makes Mr Springborg even less fit to hold the office of Health Minister for which he is paid $6,000 a week.”