BRETT WHITELEY, Shadow Minister for Health and Human Services MR
Health portfolio needs 100 per cent commitment
· Lara Giddings says she doesn’t want to continue as Health Minister
· Health needs active, not defeatist attitude
· New ideas clearly needed in health
The admission by Health Minister Lara Giddings that she no longer wants to be Health Minister is extraordinary.
On the same day she has two inconsistent stories. First she says “I want to be the Health Minister following the state election, I may not remain for the entire term…”
Then she says that she “has always said” that she doesn’t want to continue as Minister for Health past March, should Labor remain in office.
If she has less than full commitment, she must go now, and the Premier should install someone who wants the job.
What Tasmania’s health system needs is vision and leadership from the top down, not a half-hearted minister who thinks she is “starting to get burnt out.”
It is typically arrogant of this 11 year old Labor Government that ministers are bidding for jobs into the future.
Lara Giddings’ tenure in the portfolio has not been successful. The major failure was of course the millions of dollars and time wasted by Labor on Hobart’s waterfront hospital debacle. In addition, hospital waiting lists have lengthened and more sick Tasmanians simply do not have access to care and advice.
Being a government minister is a privilege, and requires 100 per cent commitment, and this is especially so in Health.
