Queensland Cuts Will Impact Patient Care and Waiting Times

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PDF printable version of Queensland Cuts Will Impact Patient Care and Waiting Times (PDF 217 KB)

7 September 2012

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was shocked and dismayed at the extent of health job cuts, announced by the Newman Government today.

“You can’t sack thousands of health workers like Mr Newman is doing and not impact frontline services,” said Ms Plibersek.

“These cuts will most likely mean fewer nurses, as well as cuts to hospital workers in areas like pharmacy and pathology.”

“I am extremely concerned about what this will mean for waiting times and patient care in Queensland.”

“These heartless cuts will devastate the lives of thousands of Queensland health workers and their families.”

“Campbell Newman and Lawrence Springborg promised they wouldn’t cut frontline health services but today they have betrayed the trust of Queenslanders.”

Ms Plibersek said Premier Newman's cuts to jobs and services were a curtain raiser to Tony Abbott's Australia, given the $70 billion budget crater the Liberals have confirmed.

“Campbell Newman recently told Lateline: ‘He understands exactly what we're trying to achieve because I've taken him through it.’”

“And today, we saw Joe Hockey say: ‘Campbell Newman, all strength to his right arm, he's showing incredible courage.’”

“While heartless and insensitive to workers who will lose their jobs, this is not surprising from the Shadow Treasurer whose only policy position is to sack public servants.”

“Queenslanders are rightly worried that this is only the start of the pain Tony Abbott would inflict on our vital public services if he was Prime Minister.”

Ms Plibersek said the Newman Government’s excuse that it inherited a health budget deficit ignored the fact the Commonwealth had committed $2.7 billion to help Queensland run its hospital system in the 2012-13 Budget.

“If these cuts mean longer waiting times in emergency departments and longer waits for elective surgery, Queensland risks losing $83 million in reward funding."

Ms Plibersek said the Commonwealth will be watching Queensland very closely to see what effect these reckless cuts have on patient care and waiting times.