Gillard Government targets Queensland Health employees
Published Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 at 08:47 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Lawrence Springborg
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has condemned a discriminatory and hurtful attack on health services and the jobs of Queensland health workers by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan.
In a base political ploy, the Prime Minister and her deputy, who reversed health funding cuts to Victoria today, refused equal treatment to Queensland hospital and health services and to the hundreds of health employees and patients affected by the Commonwealth cuts.
In a letter to Premier Campbell Newman, Prime Minister Gillard insisted that cuts to Queensland Health, worth $103M this financial year – and $381M over three years, would remain in place.
“For months, Mr Swan and his apologists in the Queensland Union Movement have claimed these cuts don’t exist,” Mr Springborg said. “But now, non-existent cuts, which have angered State Health Ministers Australia wide, are to be reversed in Victoria alone.
“Across this State, up to 2000 jobs and many basic health services are threatened by the intemperate actions of the Labor Federal Government. Ms Gillard, Mr Swan and their union backers have no reason to treat Queensland health staff any differently to their Victorian colleagues.
“Queensland has been denied equal treatment, because Mr Swan thinks he can get away with anything by blaming the Newman Government.
“No matter how hard these cuts hit Queensland health workers, Mr Swan thinks Queensland health unions will protect his back.”
Mr Springborg said he had written to the Federal Health Minister warning that the cuts would have a serious impact in Hospital and health services across the state. In her reply, Ms Plibersek passed blame for the decision directly to Mr Swan.
Ends
20 February 2013
Media Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230
In a base political ploy, the Prime Minister and her deputy, who reversed health funding cuts to Victoria today, refused equal treatment to Queensland hospital and health services and to the hundreds of health employees and patients affected by the Commonwealth cuts.
In a letter to Premier Campbell Newman, Prime Minister Gillard insisted that cuts to Queensland Health, worth $103M this financial year – and $381M over three years, would remain in place.
“For months, Mr Swan and his apologists in the Queensland Union Movement have claimed these cuts don’t exist,” Mr Springborg said. “But now, non-existent cuts, which have angered State Health Ministers Australia wide, are to be reversed in Victoria alone.
“Across this State, up to 2000 jobs and many basic health services are threatened by the intemperate actions of the Labor Federal Government. Ms Gillard, Mr Swan and their union backers have no reason to treat Queensland health staff any differently to their Victorian colleagues.
“Queensland has been denied equal treatment, because Mr Swan thinks he can get away with anything by blaming the Newman Government.
“No matter how hard these cuts hit Queensland health workers, Mr Swan thinks Queensland health unions will protect his back.”
Mr Springborg said he had written to the Federal Health Minister warning that the cuts would have a serious impact in Hospital and health services across the state. In her reply, Ms Plibersek passed blame for the decision directly to Mr Swan.
Ends
20 February 2013
Media Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407-585230