LNP SILENT ON HOSPITAL JOB CUTS TO PLUG ABBOTT CUTS

Media Release

Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Newman Government has still not explained where further job cuts will happen in the state’s health system to absorb funding cuts inflicted by the Abbott Government on top of 4,800 jobs already cut by the LNP.
“While the LNP chooses to waste taxpayer funds on politically motivated ad campaigns promoting asset sales, the waiting list for the waiting list has ballooned,” Mrs Miller said.
“The Newman Government is not being honest with Queenslanders. It prefers to waste taxpayers’ money on ads the LNP itself should pay for."
“Every time Queenslanders see, hear, or read a pro-asset sales ad or Queensland Plan ad they should know their money is going to prop up the fractured and arrogant LNP Government instead of paying for doctors and nurses.”
Mrs Miller said improvements to waiting times and emergency departments in our hospitals flowed directly from the $3.4 billion National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services implemented by the former federal Labor Government but torn up by Tony Abbott.
“You will never hear the Premier or Health Minister acknowledge the former federal Labor initiative, nor will you hear them explain where they plan to cut jobs and services to make up for the Abbott Government’s cuts to the remaining funding under that program,” she said.
“Queensland was to receive up to $675.7 million between 2009-10 and 2016-17 to meet its NEST and NEAT goals over and above regular health grants."
“But the agreement was scrapped in the disastrous first Federal Budget of the Abbott Government meaning our state will miss out on up to $40 million in 2015-16 and 2016-17."
“The Newman Government needs to explain if it plans to absorb that loss through more job cuts, more service cuts, and the Americanisation of our hospital services by selling them off to the highest bidder."
“We have already seen more than 4,800 hospital and health jobs go under Lawrence Springborg, including 1,800 nursing and midwifery jobs."
“Clearly there are more to come but the Premier and the Health Minister won’t admit it.”
Mrs Miller said figures obtained through Right to Information searches by the Queensland Nurses Union showed that in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service region alone there had been more than 1,430 jobs cut including 730 nursing and midwifery positions.

The Metro North HHS includes Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital; Prince Charles Hospital (211); Redcliffe Hospital; Caboolture Hospital; and Kilcoy Hospital.