The Tasmanian Government risks being in breach of their Commonwealth Funding Agreement that relates to the $14.9 million Integrated Care Centre (ICC) located at the Launceston General Hospital.
Federal Member for Bass Ross Hart said the Agreement obtained through the Right to Information Act, confirms that, the $14.9 million Integrated Care Centre (ICC) must be used to provide patient care.
“This space is for patient care, but Will Hodgman cares so little about patients that he’s using it as office space for bureaucrats – and his mate Malcolm Turnbull has done nothing about it.
“Unless the agreement is renegotiated to reflect the ICC’s new arrangements as an office and not a health care facility, the state will be in breach and may be liable to repay the funding to the Federal Government more than $11 million.
“The Launceston ICC was designed to employ an innovative model of patient care that enabled health professionals to work in a team environment better linking hospitals, community health services and doctors
“Importantly the ICC was designed to reflect the specific health care needs of the local community.”
Ross Hart said the funding agreement between the State and Federal Governments in 2010 contains within it a Designated Use Period of 20 years.
“The State Government is required to report on the operational details of the integrated multidisciplinary services annually until the expiry of the designated use period.
“At a time when Northern Tasmanian’s are crying out health services like these in a specially designed building, Michael Ferguson is putting office workers there.
I understand the state has until September 30 to amend the agreement.
“The Minister needs to explain how Tasmania will keep this federal funding for an office.”
ROSS HART FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BASS
