Michael Ferguson,Minister for Health
Labor must be called out and be accountable for supporting union bosses, who are dictating industrial actions that will hurt patient care and affect their families.
These actions are clearly intended to result in bed closures and service disruption, so if Labor continues to support union bosses it will be at the expense of Tasmanian patients.
It is unprecedented that the Opposition have supported surgery cancellations and infection control bans.
Even HACSU’s assistant state secretary yesterday refused to guarantee that the actions would not negatively affect care, instead repeatedly saying the actions had been “designed by the workers”.
It also remains the clear advice of the Department of Health that these actions, which include not cleaning ward equipment and not sterilising trays for two hours, will negatively impact patients.
So Labor has a choice to make – is it on the side of Tasmanian patients and their families, or is it on the side of the union bosses?
The Government is a strong supporter and funder of our staff and better services. In circumstances where union bosses are telling staff to harm patient care, we will always act to ensure patient care is as safe as it should be.
