Internet site launched to force Deputy Premier to resign

QUEENSLAND'S public service union has stepped up its campaign to get Deputy Premier Paul Lucas to resign over a health-sector pay fiasco.

QUEENSLAND'S public service union has stepped up its campaign to get Deputy Premier Paul Lucas to resign over a health-sector pay fiasco.

Alex Scott, the general secretary of the state’s Public Sector Union, said Queenslanders can now join an internet campaign at www.Standupstepdown.com where they may register their calls for Mr Lucas to resign.

Mr Lucas is also Queensland’s Health Minister.

Auditor-General Glenn Poole last Tuesday delivered a damning report on the bungled rollout by Queensland Health of a new pay system that left thousands of health staffers incorrectly paid.

Mr Scott said the issue went beyond the failed computer system to the matter of ministerial responsibility for a “catastrophic” failure of public administration.

“There has been an unprecedented failure of public administration in the health system, and the Health Minister and Deputy Premier is now refusing to resign,” he said.

“We believe that if that's allowed to happen, the bar will be set so low for ministerial accountability that no minister in the future will ever resign over an issue of public administration.

“We think that's unacceptable from a community point of view.”

He said the union campaign, launched today, would also focus on the Estimates Committee hearings into the state budget later this month, when Opposition MPs will have a chance to grill Mr Lucas over the failed payroll system that has cost Queensland taxpayers $64.5 million, but does not work.

If Mr Lucas does not resign, rolling protests will continue in hospitals and the community, Mr Scott said.

“This campaign won't go away,” he said.

“The community should determine when ministers step down, not politicians.

“If Paul Lucas doesn't step down, the concept of ministerial accountability in public administration is dead,” Mr Scott said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Lucas said the government was already implementing all seven recommendations contained in the auditor-general's report.

She said the auditor-general found the project board and project team had let down Queensland Health staff when the board formally decided to “go live” with the new system despite it not being ready.