Patient advocate calls for Drummond’s sacking for gag law proposal

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby has called for the sacking of Queensland Health Director-General Sean Drummond, saying that important reforms would not have happened without whistleblowers coming forward.

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby (left) has called for the sacking of Queensland Health Director-General Sean Drummond, saying his request to penalise staff members who spoke out about issues involving the department had made his position untenable.

Prominent patient advocate Beryl Crosby has called for the sacking of Queensland Health Director-General Sean Drummond, saying his request for gag laws that would punish those who speak out about issues involving the health department has made his position untenable.

As revealed by the Sunday Mail, Mr Drummond made the sensational call to penalise whistleblowers who provided journalists with “inappropriate” information about Queensland Health in a formal submission to the inquiry into Public Interest Disclosure laws.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman distanced herself from Mr Drummond’s proposal on Sunday, with a spokesman confirming Ms Fentiman had told Mr Drummond she did not support the introduction of penalties for the disclosure of information to journalists.

‘Left in limbo’: Devastating consequence of mental health shortages

Mrs Crosby said on Monday that Mr Drummond’s submission had “threatened” Queensland Health staff members, and called for his immediate sacking.

Beryl Crosby called for Sean Drummond's immediate sacking, saying his submission had threatened Queensland Health staff members.

“The Director-General Sean Drummond has now threatened every member of staff of Queensland Health, and made it clear that they shouldn’t be protected and harsher penalties should apply for speaking out publicly for patients’ safety,” Mrs Crosby said.

“His position is untenable. And the Minister for Health Shannon Fentiman needs to sack him immediately.”

Mrs Crosby said the reforms to Mackay Hospital and Health Service following an inquiry that found inadequate care led to botched surgeries and the deaths of babies would not have happened if a staff member had not informed her about women being harmed in the hospital.

Reports by staff members of malpractice at Mackay Base Hospital sparked an inquiry which found inadequate care had led to botched surgeries and the deaths of babies.

“That whistleblower, under the added threat of the D-G, may never have contacted me,” Mrs Crosby said.

“They’re fearful for their jobs now. I’ve had whistleblowers who come to me anonymously, and they’re so terrified. “

In response to questions posed to her at a Brisbane media conference on Monday about if Mr Drummond’s position had become untenable, Ms Fentiman repeated her lack of support for his submission and said it was provided before she became health minister.

“This was a submission lodged many months ago, before I became the health minister,” she said.

“I don‘t support the submission put forward by the department.”

Daughter, 10, saw alleged pub assault which cost young man’s life

Mr Drummond’s submission to the review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act, dated February 17, 2023, said that while the Act “provides for when an officer may make a disclosure to a journalist it does not consider penalties for inappropriate disclosure of relevant information to journalists”.

“Consideration could be given to expanding this provision to include penalties for inappropriately disclosing relevant information to journalists where a department is dealing with the matter.”

The final report of the review was delivered to Ms Fentiman’s predecessor as health minister, Yvette D’Ath, on June 19.

Originally published as Patient advocate calls for Drummond’s sacking for gag law proposal