Shannon Fentiman and Ros Bates fight: What you said

State parliament descended into a ferocious debate over what to do to fix Queensland’s health crisis – but the answers remain elusive. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Welcome to Queensland’s Facebook fight fiasco.

State parliament in September 2023 descended into a ferocious debate as Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and regular sparring partner LNP health spokeswoman Ros Bates went toe-to-toe over Facebook comments made by a fellow MP.

Ms Fentiman seized on comments allegedly made by LNP member Stephen Bennett on Facebook about health workers, saying “Late on Monday night (Mr Bennett) was very busy on his Facebook page – never a good thing for a member of parliament, I would say – attacking and undermining the Bundaberg Hospital”.

She claimed in response to a local grandmother in the community, he made a comment on his Facebook page.

“The local grandmother said to Mr Bennett – ‘hang on, my granddaughter works there. No crisis? Why the fuss Stephen? Is it because that small man told you to target Health?’,” Ms Fentiman said.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

“The member for Burnett did not like that one bit. In response he said – … you are part of the problem … time we broke the back of unrealistic employee entitlements.”

But Ms Bates fired back accusing the Health Minister – who she has dubbed “photo-op Fentiman” – of failing to do her job and spending too much time worrying about whether she would be Premier.

As debate raged on, readers were quick to join the conversation as Queensland’s hospitals reached breaking point.

Many were frustrated at the lack of actions; others blamed a range of issues for the general failure to resolve the problem.

Read what you had to say below >>>

Member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates and Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli during the State Parliament Estimates in Brisbane.

WHAT YOU SAID

TYPICAL!

Peter

No surprises here. Just let me know if this incompetent mob ever do something properly.

Anthony

The problem is politicians in general. Effectively the are employed by us, the people of state and country, to plan for the future and better

ian

Personally, I blame Campbell Newman. He has only been out of office for 13 years. Not nearly enough time for Palas-chook or Darth Vader or Fentenyl to start to fix anything.

Danny

disgraceful, time for another holiday Premier?

DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM!

Lisa

Qld health is currently interviewing for nursing graduate positions – open up more jobs for the uni students while they are keen

Mark

Plenty of sacked and stood down nurses available to fill these gaps. End the mandates and proposed fines for nurses who did not get the jab and you will be halfway to solving the problem.

While you are at it compensate them for their losses as a welcome back.

Terri

Maybe it is about time state politicians had to forgo their private health insurance and had to use the public health system. So they could make decisions based on user experience.

The Ibis

Another day, another dudminister and Labur fail!’ Out the door in 24! Can’t wait for the rusted ons to blame Newman yet again.

D

Just imagine how much worse the heath system would be under lnp with the ageing 61 year old bates running the show.

She is past her due date and was in the newman government and she is still there making political propaganda speeches but not telling the voters how she could fix the problem.

PROBLEMS? OF COURSE

Robert

Hardly an explosive revelation. Anyone with any knowledge of Queensland Health knows that doctors are leaving in droves, that consultants complain of third world conditions and that the much vaunted overseas doctors say they thought nothing was worse than the English NHS till they worked in Queensland Health.

Dave

It’s not how much money is allocated but how it is used. Same as the issues with indigenous Australians. Look at the multiple billions allocated there and look at the lack of outcomes. But we’ll done for a labour minister to show some transparency for once. Take note anna and albo.

Peter

Another labour stuff up, nothing new here.

Jazza

Well, the New Minister was going to fix this wasn’t she? No, just more of the same, unionised workforces operate efficiently don’t they?

I suspect if they strip out the non productive members out of the hospital systems and employ more actual nursing staff, Doctors etc. we might see an improvement in performance.