‘Labor’s white elephant Superclinic’

“The failure of the Rudd Labor Government to deliver the ill-conceived GP Superclinics again highlights how this Government is big on promises but doesn’t have the skills to oversee the delivery of its promises or take into account how they may harm the community,” Liberal Senator for Tasmania, David Bushby, said today.

Nearly four months ago, a hole in the ground was dug on the site of Labor’s proposed new Eastern Shore GP Superclinic. As a result, Labor at both Federal and State levels claimed that development was under way. It appears that there had been planning issues in relation to its construction which caused delays, but despite these issues they were permitted to dig a great big hole, which they did so they could claim ‘construction has started’.

The timing worked well for State Labor in the lead up to a state election as they were able to trumpet the ‘start of construction’, in the same way they did the ‘start of construction’ of the Kingston by-pass (which involved bringing in heavy machinery for a photo opportunity, before taking it away and doing nothing more for months).

“Digging a great big hole in the ground and then leaving it for months does not qualify the Eastern Shore GP Superclinic to be considered as ‘under construction’, Senator Bushby said.

Liberal Federal Candidate for Franklin, Jane Howlett, said she was very concerned at the impact the government run clinic will have on private practice GP’s and their patients on the Eastern Shore.

“A better outcome would be to support existing Eastern Shore GP services to improve health outcomes and help communities where there are GP and nursing shortages such as the Huon Valley,” Jane Howlett said.

Senator Bushby also noted that stakeholders such as State President of the Australian Medical Association, Michael Aizen, have criticised the Government’s plans. Dr Aizen described the Superclinc as being doomed.

Senator Bushby, Jane Howlett and Dr Michael Aizen today inspected the “big hole in the ground” on Hobart’s Eastern Shore which stands as yet another monument to failed Federal Labor policy implementation.