The Health Minister continued to blame shift and avoid scrutiny in Question Time today, refusing to detail how his government will respond to a halt on elective surgery procedures at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Greens Health spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said today.
“The Minister was asked how many Tasmanians would be forced to wait even longer for elective surgery as a result of funding issues at the Royal Hobart Hospital which have forced the cancellation of elective surgery until at least the end of the financial year.”
“He failed to answer the question and when I sought to ask a supplementary question for the Minister to provide the House with some detail, I was refused by the Speaker.”
“In majority government these days in Tasmania, apparently Ministers are free from the burden and responsibility of answering questions factually about their portfolios.”
“Tasmanians will remember that the Liberals in Opposition made big promises to deliver on elective surgery, and so far in government, they are failing.”
“With the State Budget not due to be delivered until August, the Liberals’ promised $76 million investment into elective surgery is a long way off for those Tasmanians waiting for surgery whose hopes were raised by the new Government when in Opposition.”
“The Greens pointed out to Mr Ferguson that all he had to do to relieve these Tasmanians’ suffering and take the funding pressure off the Royal, is release some of the promised $76 million now rather than make patients, clinicians, nurses and hospital staff wait more than three months for the promised extra resources.”
“It will come as a relief to the many suffering Tasmanians on the waiting list to learn, that after the Greens’ made this call this morning, the Minister came out publicly and undertook to bring forward to the 1st of July some of the necessary funds, and we thank Mr Ferguson for doing so.”
“While a comprehensive plan is still needed, this acknowledgement today is a major breakthrough for those Tasmanians waiting for elective surgery, and it also demonstrates why proper scrutiny of the government is so important,” Ms O’Connor said.
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Shadow Health spokesperson
