• Parliament should be recalled to deal with Tasmanian Health Service reform
• Premier and Minister have taken away the governing council’s authority
• Glenorchy Council example shows Government can move quickly when it wants to
After announcing plans to remove the governing council of the Tasmanian Health Service, the Government must act now instead of leaving the health system in limbo for another six months.
Labor Leader Rebecca White said recalling parliament is the Premier’s only option.
“The Minister has confirmed the reform requires changing legislation, so we need to go back to Parliament to get it done,” Ms White said.
“Otherwise the leadership of the health system will be in limbo for another six months.
“The Minister has taken away the governing council’s authority by saying it will be sacked. He can’t now leave it in place until after the election.
“The reform will have the support of the lower house and is unlikely to face any trouble in the upper house.
“Therefore the Premier should move immediately to recall Parliament in early January.
“In the case of the Glenorchy City Council, the Government sacked the council one day and had legislation drawn up for parliament the next.
“Sufficient consultation has occurred. The reform is widely supported by clinicians.
“It would provide some certainty for a health system that’s clearly in crisis.
“If the Minister is resisting going back to parliament to avoid scrutiny over his previous statements it’s a disgrace.
“The welfare of our state’s health and hospital system must come first.”
Rebecca White MP Labor Leader 18 December 2017
