Qld politics: $1.7m to promote health budget as frontline services buckle

At a time when already-stressed hospitals are buckling under the third Covid-19 wave, the State Government has splashed $1.7 million to promote its health spending.

Taxpayers are bankrolling a $1.7m campaign to promote the Queensland Government’s health budget at a time when already strained hospitals are being pushed to the brink amid a third Covid-19 wave.

And health staff were offered a $250 gift card to take part in it outside their work hours.

A production company, understood to be from Sydney, has been commissioned to film the campaign in Charleville, Cairns and various locations across the southeast.

The “public information campaign” will address “national issues” affecting public health systems and what the government is doing in response.

It’s understood health staff were told by a casting agency that they would be compensated with a $250 gift card in light of shooting taking place outside work hours.

But Health Minister Yvette D’Ath denied staff were being paid to take part.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath

“I’m advised that health workers are not being paid to take part, however as is standard industry practice, other people appearing in the campaign or participating in the production of the campaign are paid for their work,” she said.

The Minister said $10b in extra funding would be pumped into hospital infrastructure over the next six years as part of the government’s Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan.

“The state government has earmarked $1.7m for an awareness campaign to educate Queenslanders about the new and improved health infrastructure its record health budget is delivering in the communities they live in,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said the funding would not detract from Queensland Health’s operational budget.

The move, which is being run out of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, has raised eyebrows within government and comes at a time when hospitals and staff grapple with the state’s third, and worst, Covid-19 wave.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli took aim at the campaign.

“Queenslanders just wish the Palaszczuk government would spend half as much time on fixing the failing health system as they do on fixing their failing image,” he said.

“Rather than asking our hardworking frontline staff to be in an ad, the government needs to put them back in charge of our hospitals and let them know they are valued.”

A further $1.3m is also being spent on a recruitment campaign for more frontline staff.

Originally published as Qld politics: $1.7m to promote health budget as frontline services buckle