Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In the few moments prior to question time I will take the opportunity to highlight the merits of the health forum recently held in Launceston on the issues of public hospitals, rural health and the responsible consumption of alcohol. It was hosted by Senator Richard Colbeck, myself and the Tasmanian women’s council of the Liberal Party.

Guest speaker was the Hon. Peter Dutton, the shadow minister for health and ageing. We had a number of other outstanding speakers and I would like to thank them and pay tribute to them for their contributions. There was Dr Jim Markos, Secretary of the Medical Staff Association of LGH; Ms Colleen McGann, Managing Director of St Luke’s Health Insurance; Dr Erica Bell, Deputy Director of the University of Tasmania’s department of rural health; and Dr Mike MacAvoy, CEO of DrinkWise Australia. I want to pay a compliment to and thank DrinkWise Australia for their sponsorship of this important health forum. It was very much appreciated and their support was well recognised.

Dr Jim Markos gave an outstanding address and an important contribution on the importance of adequate funding for the Launceston General Hospital and for public hospitals generally in Tasmania. Colleen McGann talked about the importance of accountability and responsibility for both private and public hospitals, and the importance of a balance between the two across the health sector. In terms of the panel session on public hospitals, we also had input from Professor Bernie Einodor, an orthopaedic surgeon based in Launceston, who gave an excellent contribution which was very much appreciated by the people participating in the forum.

In terms of rural health we had special presentations from Mr David Downie, Chair of the Campbell Town Health Centre; and Mr Michael Ball on behalf of the Ouse Hospital Action Committee. That action committee was very vigorous in their protestations over the closure of the Ouse Hospital and referred to the closure of the Roseberry Hospital by the state Labor government in Tasmania prior to the last election. I commend them for their advocacy on behalf of their community. Ann Jones was also present on behalf of that action committee.

Reference was made to the importance of the West Coast Council standing up for their community in terms of the closure of the Roseberry Hospital, and the Roseberry Hospital Action Committee was acknowledged as well. In terms of the responsible consumption of alcohol panel, we had a contribution from Mr Sam McQuestin, Manager of Jimmy’s Liquor outlets in Launceston, who is also president of the Tasmanian division of the Liberal Party.