Flawed LNP health plan means more asset sales, more sackings

Media Release

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg is continuing to shirk responsibility for the state’s hospitals and, by his own admission today, opening public hospitals to opportunities for further sackings and asset sales.
Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller said today’s announcement that the minister would handball key aspects of the health portfolio to regional Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) showed contempt for patients and staff.
“Today, we’ve already seen the Minister admit further public service sackings are inevitable*,” Mrs Miller said.
“The ongoing dispute with Queensland nurses is clearly at the front of his mind."
“Make no mistake, the Newman Government is trying to dodge responsibility for cuts to the health service, responsibility for its management and the possible future sale of assets."
“In the past week, we’ve seen an Attorney General who refuses to explain his appointment process for the Chief Justice and a Premier who refuses to hold his Attorney General to account."
“Now we see a Health Minister who is running scared from the Health Portfolio and becoming the Minister for Buckpassing.”
Mrs Miller said shifting responsibility to HHSs meant regions would focus on meeting budget directives.
“Delivering community health services, advocating for disease prevention or delivering chronic disease management will be given no priority what-so-ever,” she said.
“The Minister sets the budgets for HHSs as well as the targets and priorities as part of service agreements."
“The only things that count from the Minister’s point of view are waiting times for elective surgery, waiting times in emergency departments and ambulance ramping so everything else will fall to the wayside."
“And if regions fall under short-term budget pressure, transfer of assets mean they can sell these assets without public consultation or sack even more staff or outsource services at the cost of providing proper care for patients."
“The Newman Government and its members are failing in their promise to Queenslanders and running from the responsibility that comes with being a Premier and a Minister.”

*"That's the simple reality. I think everyone understands those sorts of things," he told 612 ABC Brisbane on Monday.
"As you put more of the focus into efficient management at a local level, there's ultimately going to be transfer of some of those resources as well, and positions may not ultimately be needed."
Lawrence Springborg on ABC Radio, June 23, 2014