Unhealthy scrutiny meeting

Saturday 05 November 2016

A marathon three hour scrutiny meeting into the background behind Health’s decision to build a new hospital on a site adjoining the current one – rather than on the People’s Park or the Waterfront - saw heated exchanges between the panel and those being quizzed.

At the heart of the dispute – an independent report compiled for scrutiny which criticised the way Health has gone about the job.

Amongst the allegations levelled by Concerto are a lack of a long term integrated health strategy, and the ability of those working on the project.

Time and again during the hearing the panel probed the project team about the findings. And time and again those being questioned hit back saying the report was fundamentally flawed and littered with errors that need correcting.

At times the various people involved in the hearing were talking over one another; raising their voices; interrupting each other; and demanding either their questions be answered, or that they be given the opportunity to finish their answers.

In particular Health Minister Senator Andrew Green took umbrage at claims that his team was not up to the job and described the report as “a pig’s ear”. Towards the end of the meeting scrutiny asked every member of the team in the hearing to give a potted history of their qualifications for the record.

The States are now going to be asked to approve a detailed plan of how the scheme is going to be funded.