Health Board Blows Springborg’s Cover

Media Release.

Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Central Queensland Health and Hospital Board has exposed Lawrence Springborg’s direct responsibility for health cuts and closures across the state.

“Mr Springborg has been ducking for cover behind regional health boards and saying the cuts and closures are their doing not his,” Mrs Miller said.

“But at the public meeting last night on the future of the Moura Hospital, board representatives said they would ask Mr Springborg to approve Moura as a model site for the future delivery of rural and regional health services.

“Finally we have a public admission that Mr Springborg is directly responsible for board decisions and the cuts and closures in our health system.

“The board’s actions prove once and for all that regional health board decisions are LNP government decisions.

“Mr Springborg can no longer use the excuse that boards are totally responsible for cuts and closures. The CQ board’s decision proves that he has never been telling the truth about his responsibilities.”

Mrs Miller said Mr Springborg was now also directly involving himself in decisions on cuts to services at Eidsvold Hospital.

“This is further proof that Mr Springborg has always been directly responsible for regional health board decisions, he just never admitted to it,” she said.

Opposition frontbencher and Member for Rockhampton, Bill Byrne, who also attend the Moura meeting said the future of the town’s hospital was no clearer today than it was before the meeting.

“While the regional board outlined options, its clear preference is to effectively hand over health care in Moura to private providers,” Mr Byrne said.

“This is the first step in the Americanisation of our state health system where profit not people, is the top priority.

“Together with statements by the local MP and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney advocating the hospital’s closure, the prospects for retaining Moura Hospital in its present form are remote.

“I was appalled that Mr Seeney snubbed Thursday night’s meeting in Moura. He simply doesn’t care about the town or its residents.

“Similarly, Mr Springborg refused to attend and while the Premier found time on his current tour to visit Emerald and Rockhampton, he couldn’t be bothered making a slight detour to Moura.

“It all goes to show how little the LNP cares about regional Queenslanders,” Mr Byrne said.