Michael Ferguson: Royal Hobart Hospital Rescue Taskforce

The Royal Hobart Hospital Rescue Taskforce has confirmed that the Liberal Government made the right decision to pause the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The Taskforce was commissioned to undertake an independent investigation into the redevelopment and its initial findings have revealed just how incompetent Labor was with this project.

They include poor governance and successive design changes which frustrated the project and led to massive delays, which in turn led to massive cost blowouts.

In fact, Labor was so far off the mark that the project was at risk of causing a budget blowout up to as much as $70 million.

These findings vindicate the Liberal Government’s decision to pause the redevelopment and sort out its many significant problems.

We are determined to rescue the Royal Hobart Hospital and we will salvage the right royal mess left behind by Labor and the Greens.

It would have been irresponsible to continue on the same path Labor and the Greens were on. Tasmanians deserve better and we are committed to delivering better.

We needed to get the redevelopment back on track and that’s what the Taskforce is doing.

The Taskforce has so far focussed on;

• Identifying and investigating key project issues.
• Instituting clear and simple governance arrangements by replacing three different decision making bodies with a single point of control in the Taskforce.
• Negotiating care and maintenance arrangements with key contractors and consultants to keep project expenditure to a minimum during the rescue period.
• Meeting with Professional Reference Group members to discuss the challenges facing the project and how they can be overcome;
• And developing the work program for the Taskforce and a business plan.

We are committed to delivering the health system Tasmanians need and deserve. And we will work with all stakeholders to deliver a health system in which all Tasmanians can be confident.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health