Bombshell: Qld Health hired agency to protect ‘image’ under LNP attack

Shannon Fentiman axes Health Department decision to hire communications experts to teach top bureaucrats how to protect government’s ‘image’.

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A furious Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said she had nothing to do with Queensland Health’s controversial move to seek media training for executives, but intervened to axe it after becoming aware The Courier-Mail had asked questions.

It was today revealed Queensland Health hired a communications agency to teach top bureaucrats how to protect the government’s “image” from LNP attack when parliamentary Estimates hearings start this month.

Queensland Health allocated tens of thousands of dollars to engage Brisbane communications agency Rowland to deliver “media training” to its executives.

The defiant minister insisted the story was now “over” and dismissed follow-up questions about the culture in Queensland Health and the LNP’s claim the government cares “more about how things look” than how things are.

“Certainly before estimates I didn’t think it was appropriate or necessary. I asked for it to be cancelled and it’s been cancelled,” she said.

The bombshell revelations came as the state government wrapped up its community cabinet in Townsville - where three Labor held seats are at risk of being lost in October.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman Picture: David Clark

It meant Ms Fentiman, speaking at Townsville Hospital’s cancer centre, faced questions about the department’s botched training move rather than spruiking a game-changing treatment regime previously only available in Brisbane.

Asked if Queensland Health’s decision was frustrating, Ms Fentiman insisted the contract had been cancelled and the story was “over”.

“It’s been cancelled, story done, story over,” she said.

“Any other questions for our amazing cancer clinicians on Townsville leading the nation on cancer saving treatment?”

Ms Fentiman said she was “absolutely confident to take the questions from the LNP” at Estimates.

“But also our senior bureaucrats are very ready and able to answer any questions about the budget and the investment that we’re making and the amazing initiatives that are saving people’s lives,” she said.

In recent days meeting request emails were sent to hospital and health service executives across the state inviting them to the appointments in which they would rehearse how to answer questions during parliamentary Estimates hearings, which begin on July 23.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Sources inside the health system confirmed the training was “solely for Estimates” and described it as being aimed at protecting the “image” of the government.

Parliament’s annual Estimates hearings are a politically-charged affair in which government directors and executives can be called to face questions from members of parliament.

Last year four top Queensland Health bureaucrats, five hospital and health service executives, Queensland Ambulance Service commissioner and Mental Health Commission commissioner fronted Estimates.

It is understood senior Queensland Health bosses engaged Rowland to prepare executives for the likely lines of questioning and how to answer them, prior to the contract being axed on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Queensland Health said the training would not occur.

“There has been no media training provided by an external agency for executives for Estimates, or prior to Estimates, and nor will there be,” he said.

Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Media training remains an important part of professional development for senior executives who communicate complex issues and public health messaging to the media and community and training is something that is undertaken periodically,” he said.

The axed media training comes three months before a state election in which the LNP is expected to prosecute the government’s record on health.

The state government’s record on health is expected to come under the spotlight during Estimates after it was revealed in May ambulance ramping was at a record high.

Some 45 per cent of patients waiting more than half an hour to be admitted to emergency departments.

The opposition has previously accused the state government of being more concerned about “how things look” in the health system.

That has prompted Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to fire back and demand the LNP detail its plan to ease pressure on Queensland Health.