CAIRNS NEEDS A NEW HOSPITAL NOT MORE LABOR SPIN

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt has slammed the Premiers announcement regarding the Edmonton Health facility has nothing more than spin and no substance..

"The Premier is once again trying to con the people of the Far North that she is doing something and listening to the people on the issue of an alternate hospital site. In reality she is doing exactly what the former health minister said, but her spin doctors have put it a nicer way.” said Mr Hunt.

 Mr Hunts comments came after the Premier announced she had ordered a review of the regions health services plan and stated that the Edmonton site was going to be used as a health precinct for ante natal checks and physiotherapy but that this could later be used as a back up hospital.

“The Premier thinks the people of Cairns are idiots with this rubbish. Firstly a health precinct is not a hospital. The Queensland Party is talking about an alternate hospital site in times of disaster and a physios office will not cut. Secondly the Premier thinks this spin about the health review can fob us off and hope the issue will go away.” Mr Hunt said

“This shows that the government just does not get it when it comes to the need in terms of disaster management preparedness and mitigation. If the government needs a review they should be asking Emergency Management Queensland and the emergency services agencies. They should be asking the Cairns Council disaster management unit. The reasons it needs to be moved is because of it’s vulnerability to natural disasters, not the health needs of the community. We are calling on people to send a clear message to the government that we are not idiots and sign our e-petition at http://bit.ly/eTjB6h. to make them see sense”

Mr Hunt stated “Every single plan, review and disaster simulation exercise in our Region has highlighted the need to relocate the hospital. It is time for the government to stop play games with words and trying to con people that a health facility somehow equates to an alternate hospital. It is not good enough. I call on the government to stop stalling on this issue and come clean with the people of our area. If you’re not going to find an alternate hospital site and plan for our future, have the courage to say so.”