The Western Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMAWA) has withdrawn its representative on the board of Healthway, the last to leave the board after Premier Colin Barnett called on all members to resign last month.
The Premier’s call came in the wake of a damning report on ticket and hospitality rorting by some board members and staff of the government agency, which provides sponsorship to sporting organisations in exchange for promoting health messages.
All members, including chair Rosanna Capolingua, stepped down except the AMA’s representative, Professor Gary Geelhoed.
The ABC understands Professor Geelhoed, who is also WA’s chief medical officer, had indicated his willingness to resign contingent on an assurance of Healthway’s continuing independence.
The AMA has indicated it wants him replaced with another senior doctor.
The State Government wanted a clean sweep of board positions so it can install an interim board until legislation can be passed to completely restructure the organisation.
AMA president Michael Gannon said he believed the Government had acted with undue haste and had not guaranteed the continued independence of health promotion.
“The AMA is not running away from an organisation which has been gutted by government policy by their actions in recent weeks,” he said.
“We agree with the case for governance reform but until we see guarantees that we are going to have a genuinely independent body that’s interested in public health, not interested in marginal seat campaigns, we’re not walking away from it.”
Dr Gannon said the AMA’s withdrawal of Professor Geelhoed as its representative sought to protect his reputation and standing as a leading medical professional and the state’s chief medical officer, but said the AMA still wanted a member on the board to ensure the agency’s independence.
“It’s not a plaything of the Deputy Premier, the Health Minister. It’s not a plaything of the Premier. Its functions are set out clearly in legislation,” he said.
“The Premier can’t just decide tomorrow he’s going to close it.”
It is not clear whether the bid to nominate another AMA representative will be accepted by the State Government.
The Health Minister has been contacted for comment.