Arrogant Opposition Cairns Hospital plan … three months on and still nothing

Health Minister Stephen Robertson has again today called on the Leader of the Opposition to publicly apologise for treating the people of the Far North with contempt.

Three months ago during the historic Regional cairns sitting of State Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition was called upon by the vote of the Parliament to “to produce to the Assembly within 28 days all documents that his shadow minister considered in producing the press release about the Cairns Base Hospital issued by the member for Caloundra”.

“The 28-day period is long gone,” Mr Robertson said.

“In fact it is now more than 75 days and still nothing: nothing but a hastily-written media release which predictably has not been backed up by policy and detail – then or now.

“The truth is the Liberal National Party’s off-the-cuff announcement they would build a new hospital will not meet any of the needs of Cairns residents now.

“The people of Cairns, and the hard working staff at the hospital, deserve better than to have an Opposition intent on using the Cairns Base Hospital to try to score cheap political points.

“We’re getting on with the job of improving local health services and they’re still playing politics, keeping their plans away from the blow-torch of public scrutiny.

“It remains clear that Mr Springborg has blatantly thumbed his nose at a legitimate and binding vote of the Parliament and that he’s treating the people of the Far North with absolute disdain.

“What started as a Liberal National stunt in Cairns has now backfired.

“They are also still yet to correct their costings black hole.

“They're $500 million short on what it would take to build a new hospital in Cairns.

“In these tough economic times this is not the sort of issue to get wrong.

"Seventy five days on, and neither Mr Springborg nor Mr McArdle will say where the extra money is coming from.

"The Opposition has provided no evidence to date that this proposed new Cairns Hospital will meet he short and medium term health needs of the people of Far North Queensland.

“Queenslanders deserve better than this inept and dishonest opposition.”

MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 0458 449 267