Nicholls should apologise to 297 health workers sacked

Published Wednesday, 13 September, 2017 at 12:08 PM

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick has called upon Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls to use his trip to Far North Queensland to apologise to the 297 Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service workers sacked when he was Treasurer of the former LNP Government.

“The Palaszczuk Government is continuing to restore frontline services across the Cairns and Hinterland region, including the Atherton Tablelands and Innisfail,” Mr Dick said.

“An additional 367 nurses and midwives, 107 doctors and 59 allied health professional and technical staff have been employed at the Cairns and Hinterland HHS since the Palaszczuk Government was elected.

“Since the election of the Palaszczuk Government, the budget of the Cairns and Hinterland HHS has increased by $239.5 million - or 35% - on the final budget of the former LNP Government when Tim Nicholls was Treasurer.

“Since coming to government, we have increased funding to Mareeba Hospital by 14%, from $21 million to $24 million.

“At the end of the 2015 financial year, Mareeba Hospital employed 173 staff. In the 2016 financial year, 180 staff were employed.

“From the 2015/16 to the 2016/17 financial year, there has been an extra 14 per cent increase in funding.”

Mr Dick said the Newman-Nicholls LNP Government had also axed $122,000 in funding for the Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice Association Inc to employ a healthy lifestyles co-ordinator to help locals.

The Minister condemned the LNP’s cuts to sexual health services in Far North Queensland, which were followed by an outbreak of syphilis in the region.

“The Newman-Nicholls LNP Government reign led to job cuts jeopardising the livelihoods, health and wellbeing of Far North Queenslanders. It’s time for Tim Nicholls to own up for what he’s done and take the time to apologise to those who suffered while he was Treasurer,” Mr Dick said.

ENDS

 

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