Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
In Parliament this morning the alleged Health Minister, and Premier, refused to look into purchasing the St Helens building or taking over the services it operates, despite the soon desperate service gap when the private business closes.
There are thousands of people on St Helens hospitals’ books. These are patients who rely on its critical and lifesaving services to continue with day to day life.
The Greens moved in Parliament that the Government investigate the purchase of St Helens Private, and take its services into the public health system. The Liberals blocked this move and instead amended our motion to remove any action to retain the services.
This says everything about Jeremy Rockliff and what his government intends to do - hand wring and nothing else.
This is the terrible reality of a part-time Health Minister, who’s actually a full-time footy-spruiking Premier.
The thousands of patients on St Helens books need its services to heal and survive. What will they, and the many, many more still waiting to get seen, be doing after June 23? There is nowhere else to go for long-term mental health and drug recovery, therapy groups, and almost all of its TMS treatment.
If the federal Labor and state Liberals can get together to fund a billion dollar stadium Tasmanians don’t want or need, why can’t they help secure the lifesaving services at St Helens?