Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has pledged thousands of new frontline health jobs over three years. Source: News Corp Australia
PREMIER Campbell Newman has promised to create more than 2650 frontline health jobs over three years, including 490 doctors.
From 2015/16, a re-elected Newman Government would also employ an extra 1700 nurses and 464 new “health practitioners”, with the plan to cost $583.4 million.
Mr Newman has effectively moved to neutralise a key component of the attack mounted by Labor and the unions, with 10 days to go.
Both have made cuts to frontline services a core part of their campaign message, with Labor promising to restore them.
Earlier in the campaign, Labor promised to employ 400 new nurses over four years at a cost of $110 million.
“Queensland Health has seen real progress over the last few years,” he said.
“Why? Because this Government is totally committed to deliver for Queensland the best free public hospital system in the nation.”
Mr Newman said his Government’s economic management had allowed it to improve health services.
“You cannot have the best free public hospital system in the nation unless you have a strong economy,” he said.
Earlier in the campaign, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk accused the Newman Government of cutting 4800 health positions and almost 1800 nurses and midwives.
But the Premier says the state has more nurses than three years ago.
“There’s over 1000 extra nurses in Queensland Health today than at the time that we came to office, so we’ve very dramatically improved frontline service delivery,” he said.
“It’s sad when people from the other side of the political fence won’t actually acknowledge it, but I’ very confident Queenslanders are seeing through this one.”