Health Minister Michael Ferguson has been forced to correct the record over planning approval for the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The Minister wrongly claimed planning approval for the $18 million temporary building on the hospital forecourt had already been secured. The fact is that planning applications have not even been made to the Hobart City Council for much of the work.
Shadow Health Minister Rebecca White said it was an embarrassing Question Time for Mr Ferguson.
“The Health Minister addressed the house with trademark condescension before sheepishly correcting the record after Question Time,” Ms White said.
“Mr Ferguson was asked a legitimate question about how he planned to meet his own timeline to have patients in the building by February 2016. There is serious doubt about whether the project can be delivered on time, following the significant delays imposed by the Minister.
“If Mr Ferguson had bothered to read the update from the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment project or the newspaper this morning he would have known that a development application hasn’t even been lodged with Council and yet he claimed approval had already been given.
“This is typical of the Minister’s arrogant and dismissive approach to legitimate questions in his portfolio. It is clear that he is not across his brief.
“Michael Ferguson might think he’s above answering questions in Parliament but Tasmanians deserve more from their Health Minister.”
Rebecca White MP Shadow Health Minister
