GREENS LABOR COALITION PROTECTS GALLAGHER FROM REBUKE ON WAITING LISTS
The Greens have once again walked in lock-step with the Labour Party to block the Opposition raising a motion of censure in Health Minister Katy Gallagher, over revelations that ACT Health does in fact request Doctors to downgrade their patients from urgent Category 1 to a ‘2a Staged Procedure”, as shown in a letter tabled in the Assembly, said Shadow Minister for Health Jeremy Hanson today.
The Censure was moved after the Minister failed to answer a string of questions about her radical about-turn on the issue, when she said on Tuesday that asking Doctors to downgrade patients was not ACT Health policy. By last night, the Minister was forced to admit it was policy and was actually common practice.
But the Greens blocked the move.
Shadow Minister for Health Jeremy Hanson said that the move was the latest in a long line of instances where the Greens come rushing to the defence of Katy Gallagher.
"The Greens and Labor are a coalition in the ACT," Jeremy said. "Every week, the community is made aware of the latest disaster in our health system. From bullying, to stranded patients, to frustrated staff and angry patients.
"Yet the Greens won't even hear the case.
"They are not interested in anything that will go towards really scrutinising Ms Gallagher in health. This coalition is out of touch and clinging to one another through crisis after crisis, putting their own places above the community. None of the talk of scrutiny and transparency from the Greens or Labor is backed up with anything of substance.
"Only the Canberra Liberals are doing the hard work of holding this coalition government to account and providing a true alternative for the Canberra community," said Mr Hanson.
24 June 2010
