Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Premier’s failure to replace Dr Chris Davis as Assistant Health Minister shows a disregard for what should be a high-priority issue.
“Everyone knows why there is no replacement — because the current Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg, is afraid of being shown up as he was with Dr Davis,” Mrs Miller said.
“The dispute over WorkChoices-style contracts for hospital doctors showed how much Lawrence Springborg is out of his depth.
“He started the dispute by forcing the contracts on doctors and kept it going for almost nine months by his refusal or inability to see reason.
“All Lawrence Springborg has done so far is avoid responsibility by hiding behind regional hospital and health boards, sack nurses and other frontline and support staff, and force regional boards to run at a profit instead of investing in services.
“He has also been crowing about improvements to surgical wait lists and hospital emergency departments but never mentions any improvements are due to the former federal Labor Government’s $3.4 billion National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services struck with the states but now torn up by the Abbott Government.
“He has not outlined what will fill the void left by the scrapping of this Labor initiative that was meant to run until 2016-17 and which has delivered what are the few bright spots in our health system since the Newman Government was elected,” Mrs Miller said.
Source: http://annastaciapalaszczukmp.com.au/2014/05/20/premier-disregards-health/