David Crisafulli and Ros Bates are under pressure to explain comments by LNP MP Stephen Bennett, following a since-deleted late night social media tirade against healthcare staff.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman today revealed the comments made on a post attacking the Bundaberg Hospital, including Mr Bennett’s comment that it is “time we broke the back of unrealistic employee entitlements.”
Nurses and midwives at the Bundaberg Hospital receive entitlements such as sick leave, overtime pay, and maternity leave.
The Health Minister has called on David Crisafulli and Ros Bates to categorically rule out cutting nurses and midwives’ pay and conditions.
The LNP MP’s comments come as the Palaszczuk Government implements strategies to attract overseas and interstate healthcare workers to move to regional and rural Queensland, as well as encouraging young Queenslanders to take up a career in the healthcare sector.
LNP Shadow Minister for Health, Ros Bates, has previously come under fire for labelling healthcare staff working in regional Queensland “duds.”
During the previous LNP Government, 345 health staff were sacked from the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, including 120 nurses.
Quotes attributable to the Minister:
“These comments, which reveal the LNP’s plan to cut the pay and conditions of healthcare staff, are appalling.”
“Clearly, the LNP are determined to return to the ways of the Campbell Newman years, when thousands of nurses and midwives were sacked across Queensland.”
“Stephen Bennett should apologise today.”
“David Crisafulli and Ros Bates need to explain why their backbenchers are publicly boasting about ‘breaking the back’ of healthcare worker entitlements.”
“The Palaszczuk Government will never cut the pay and conditions of our hardworking health heroes.”
Quotes attributable to Bundaberg MP Tom Smith:
“In case the people of Queensland ever needed a reminder of the LNP’s attitude towards healthcare staff, this is it.”
“The last time the LNP were in government, they sacked more than three hundred health staff in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region, including 120 nurses.”
“This is just the latest in a string of attacks made by Stephen Bennett against our healthcare staff.”
“It’s time he begins backing in our frontline workers. Otherwise, he should reconsider whether he is best placed to represent the people of Burnett.”
