LNP Deliberately Misleading Queenslanders On Hospital Privatisations

Media Release.

A deliberately misleading taxpayer-funded propaganda campaign by the LNP government is attempting to dupe Queenslanders over the privatisation of public hospitals, Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says.

Mrs Miller said the advertisements broadcast last night and today clearly showed the Newman government is implementing a program of privatisation, starting with the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

She said the advertisements were a political tool which used deceptive language to con Queenslanders by saying: “No existing public hospital will be privatised.”

“What that says – particularly to Sunshine Coast residents – is that your hospital does not yet exist, so expect it to be privatised,” Mrs Miller said.

“The same goes for the new Queensland Children’s Hospital and the new Gold Coast University Hospital that opens in two months’ time."

“The Health Minister Lawrence Springborg could not have been clearer last week when he said the government had asked private providers for expressions of interest in the management of clinical and non-clinical services at the new Sunshine Coast hospital."

“And what that means is that anyone turning up for treatment when the doors open should be ready to open their wallet."

“The former Labor government funded and built this $1.8 billion hospital with the clear intention it remain a traditional public hospital where health services would be – as they should be – free."

“The current LNP government will now take Sunshine Coast residents for a ride by selling off this facility to the highest bidder and charging locals for basic health services."

“The government and the Health Minister are also admitting in this new series of political advertisements that they want private companies to take over health facilities when they state that the government will continuing to open the doors to businesses."

“This is the first step in the Americanisation of our hospital system."

“It is the next step by a government which has sacked nurses and cut frontline health services to deny Queenslanders the basic right of a free health care service."

“I challenge the government and the Health Minister to come clean and stop sending vague and misleading and deliberately deceptive messages on privatisation."

“And I call on Sunshine Coast residents and the residents of all other areas to demand that this government show some honesty and tell the truth about what they intend to sell off.”