‘Fake’ health infrastructure plan treated taxpayers like fools again
In Queensland, we have been sold a lie that trivialises the importance of quality health care. The previous Labor government’s $9.8bn health infrastructure plan has been exposed as a fake, writes Kylie Lang.
Kylie Lang
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The older we get the more we value our health. The bravado of youth, thinking we’re bulletproof and will live forever, disappears as the wrinkles deepen.
We realise that, if we haven’t already, we soon will need to spend time in hospital, dealing with one medical issue or another.
Here in Queensland, we have been sold a lie.
A despicable lie that trivialises the importance of quality health care.
The previous Labor government told us they had our backs, that we’d be supported with better care.
Its $9.8bn health infrastructure plan unveiled in 2022 would make sure of this.
This week, that plan was exposed as a fake.
“Little more than a mirage of media releases” is what Infrastructure Partnerships Australia called it.
How disgusting! The public is treated like fools, again.
Infrastructure specialist Sam Sangster, commissioned in December by the LNP Crisafulli government to review the plan, found all 15 hospital projects were hastily planned and missing critical assets, such as power networks and fire systems.
Basic safety, in other words, never mind premium health care.
Every single project was massively underfunded and delayed.
Meanwhile, doctors and nurses – our unsung heroes – are expected to make do with ever less.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls faces a near-impossible task of cleaning up Labor’s mess. Mr Nicholls says he
can save the projects – that will now cost $17bn to deliver, thank you taxpayers – but can we have faith that he can?
We’ve been sorely let down by the previous government which was so dire in delivering outcomes it could have featured in an episode of Yes Minister.
It will take time to instil confidence and see to it that vital hospital upgrades are actioned.
In the interim, don’t get sick, folks.
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