The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt, has today launched an e-petition to relocate the Cairns Base Hospital, stating that the Deputy Premier and Health Minister, Paul Lucas, is making a big mistake by ignoring the urgent need to find an alternate site. Mr Lucas said only yesterday that his government would not take any moves to relocate the hospital from its current vulnerable position due to the money already spent on the Cairns Base Hospital.
"The Minister’s comments in Cairns show that this bloke is absolutely clueless when it comes to the principles of disaster management. To say that it is more important to put the lives of Far North Queenslanders in danger because his government has already spent millions on the Cairns Base Hospital shows how out of touch his government is,” said Mr Hunt.
“As usual, his government is trying to use smoke and mirrors to avoid the issue by making the evacuation the focus and not the reasons why it had to occur.”
Mr Hunt’s comments came after patients from the Cairns Base Hospital had to be airlifted to Brisbane due to fears that the storm surge caused by Cyclone Yasi could inundate the hospital.
“The people of Cairns have made their desires clear to this government in the media and in discussions they have had with me. The doctors and health professionals have made their position clear. The disaster management experts have made it clear to this government that the Cairns Base Hospital is vulnerable.”
“The Labor party themselves looked at moving it previously, so they are well aware of the risks. Why then does this Government continue with this ridiculous head in the sand approach and place the lives of Far North Queenslanders in danger?” Mr Hunt said.
“The Queensland Party are a viable alternative to the current Labor government and unlike the LNP we are not afraid to put our policies and ideas forward and let the people decide.”
“Because our four local Labor members are more interested in toeing the party line than sticking up for the Far North I have commenced an e-petition to have this matter addressed which was sponsored and tabled in Parliament by Queensland Party Leader Aidan McLindon on Thursday 17th February 2011. I urge everyone to have your say and get your voice heard by the ostriches in George Street, Brisbane by going to the link http://bit.ly/eTjB6h .”
“Given that the Premier is going to be spending the week in Cairns it should be a priority to have a look at the situation involving the Cairns Base Hospital. I extend an invitation to the Premier to sign the petition as well and show the people of Far North Queensland in a bi-partisan manner how much she cares about our safety because Cyclone Yasi has shown us that the time for excuses is over.”
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