2013 brings positive outlook in Queensland Health

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg says the next phase of the Newman Government’s plan to rebuild Queensland Health is just around the corner and it is time for Labor MPs to drop the failed policies of Anna Bligh.

Mr Springborg says the Government is charting a better course for health delivery and will reveal a new suite of policy initiatives later this month.

“Local boards are still cleaning up Labor’s mess, but the surviving cell of ALP extremists continues to promote its potion of waste, blown budgets and centralism as the best medicine for Queensland Health,” Mr Springborg said.

“Labor left our hospitals in a death spiral. It left a $150 million health deficit in 2011-12 and a $150 million black hole in the health budget for 2012-13.

“Today, when every performance measure shows that Queensland Health has levelled out, we hear Labor MPs desperate to push it back into a power-dive.

“Every day Labor politicians are howling for a return to their billion-dollar payroll fiascos, fraudsters and hyperinflation in our health expenditure.”

The Health Minister challenged Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk to put an end to chronic financial mismanagement as the core feature of the Labor Party’s Health policy.

“This was the Labor policy that crashed and burned to ashes,” Mr Springborg said.

“But ten months later, Labor’s health plan is to continue oppose changes in senior management while demanding increased expenditure, regardless of the consequences.”

The Health Minister said that since the election of the Newman Government:

• Hospitals returned a balanced budget for the first time in a decade or more.
• Power over decision-making was devolved to local Hospital and Health boards.
• Ambulance Bypassing was banned.
• Nurses, midwives, medical officers and health employees received pay-rises (up to 3 per cent).
• All Hospital and Health Services received increased budgets and financial oversight.
• The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme was doubled.

“I look forward to the many positive changes in Health that will be revealed as the year proceeds,” Mr Springborg said.

“I call on the Labor Party to drop its baggage of the past and join us in planning for the future.”

[ENDS] 7 February 2013

Media contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230