Editorial: Early lesson for minister of unforgiving portfolio

Nobody who has been around politics would think for a moment Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is happy with her new job, writes the editor.

One of the reasons the health portfolio is considered the poisoned chalice of ministries is that no matter how hard you work at it, the dramas can – and do – come at you from the most unexpected places.

Shannon Fentiman faced this truth yesterday in her first proper Question Time as the state’s Health Minister (having been ignored the day before when the Opposition went after her predecessor Yvette D’Ath) when she was hit with the revelation from her LNP shadow that the “Southport lower acuity accommodation facility” operated by Queensland Health was actually a wing at the Sea World Nara Resort.

After some bluster about the government’s planned hospital capital expenditure, the minister admitted that she “obviously” did not have any information about the Sea World Resort – but would be “very happy to get some advice”.

Three minutes later her staff had found the relevant briefing note, and Ms Fentiman – when asked again about the Sea World solution – was able to advise that the facility was a “model of care (that) complements several hospital avoidance and discharge programs and helps with bed flow pressures to ease wait times in emergency departments”.

Or in other words, the Opposition had got it right: the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service had run out of room and so has hired 24 beds at the $350-a-room resort as an alternative.

Welcome to the health portfolio!

Nobody who has been around politics would think for a moment that Ms Fentiman is happy with her new job.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman during Question Time on Wednesday. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

She did claim yesterday that when asked by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to do the “very challenging job” she had replied: “Absolutely, you bet, I’m up for it – because there is no better way to make a difference than in this portfolio.” But every minister who gets handed health knows it is almost always a no-win task.

But there are some ways Ms Fentiman can score some early goals. For a start, she is following a failed health minister in Yvette D’Ath – and that means anything positive she does will be such a contrast that it will look good. That is why Ms Fentiman’s “five-point plan” that she unveiled on her first day in the job last Thursday was such a positive move. It showed she was determined to take on the challenge proactively.

(Her five points were to tackle ambulance ramping, reduce wait times for both emergency care and surgery, and boost support for both mental and women’s health.)

Ms Fentiman also promised to challenge the pen-pushers in her department; to “ask some pretty tough questions of the department about what they’re doing to drive better performance” – and wasted no time in heading out to hear from some of the heroes at the coalface of our public health system.

The minister should continue to do that, as there is no substitute for listening to those that know the issues best. In fact, we would suggest a listening tour of hospitals across the state would be a pretty good place to start.

Ms Fentiman was also handed a gift this week when she announced contracts worth more than $1bn had been awarded for expansions of both the QEII Jubilee Hospital on Brisbane’s southside and Ipswich Hospital. This was work done by Ms D’Ath that Ms Fentiman got to own. We assume she said thanks.

As we have reported extensively, our hospital system is struggling on most measures.

Ms Fentiman won’t have many good days. But she has started off on the right foot.

BENEFITS OF A WARM RELATIONSHIP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has certainly made an impression in his whirlwind tour of Australia this week.

Treated to a rock star reception in Sydney on Tuesday night, the leader of the world’s biggest democracy has also found the time for some serious diplomacy, with the signing of a deal on Wednesday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, designed to prevent people smuggling and promote mobility between the two countries for students, researchers and businesses.

In addition, the pair also announced the welcome news a new Indian consulate would open soon in Brisbane. The warming relationship between Australia and the growing powerhouse of India – and the economic and trade benefits it brings – has been an important development in recent times as relations with China have been strained.

Mr Albanese clearly considers ties with India and Prime Minister Modi important, with this week’s visit marking the sixth time the pair have met in just a year.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is also justified in making a trip to Sydney Wednesday night to meet with the leader of the state’s second-largest trading partner.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here