Minister: I make no apologies

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Queensland’s new Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and her Ministers are knuckling down just hours after being sworn in at Government House

 
MP Anthony Lynham says he is committed to his new role. Pic: Jack Tran

MP Anthony Lynham says he is committed to his new role. Pic: Jack Tran Source: News Corp Australia

SURGEON Anthony Lynham said yesterday he would put his medical career on hold to fulfil his duties as a cabinet minister in the new Palaszczuk Government.

Dr Lynham, the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, refuted suggestions he had recently neglected his Cabinet duties to perform complex maxillofacial surgery in Brisbane.

He admitted performing the surgery on February 20, but said it did not clash with any ministerial duties.

“I make no apologies for honouring my medical commitment to participate in surgery for my few remaining patients who have had their surgery planned long before I became a Government minister,’’ the Member for Stafford, in north Brisbane, said.

Dr Lynham said he was part of a specialist surgical team performing complicated orthognathic reconstructive surgery on a young patient’s face and jaw at the Mater Private Hospital.

“It would not have been fair to the patient or the surgical team for me to have cancelled my involvement in this scheduled surgery, ’’ he said.

Dr Anthony Lynham will honour the handful of surgeries remaining which were scheduled bef

Dr Anthony Lynham will honour the handful of surgeries remaining which were scheduled before he became a minister. Pic: Annette Dew Source: News Limited

“I was in my ministerial office receiving departmental briefings on portfolio issues from my department before I attended the Mater Private Hospital for four hours to participate in this important surgery. I then returned to my ministerial office for further briefings and conversations with portfolio stakeholders.

“I continued working through the weekend.

“I was not a member of the Cabinet Emergency Response Committee for Tropical Cyclone Marcia so was not required to attend a cabinet meeting on February 20.”

Mr Lynham said he did not intend to continue working as a surgeon during his tenure as a Government minister but he had a handful of procedures to complete.