Northern Territory Health Crisis

The growing lack of confidence in the Minister for Health across the Territory has forced the Leader of the Opposition to move to Censure the Chief Minister for failing to intervene in the crisis.

"The Health Minister has abandoned his role completely when it comes to managing Health in the Territory.” Ms Carney said.

"Every time that there is a major problem in the Health Department, the CEO has to step out in front of the cameras and face the music.

"The problem is nobody ever voted for Mr Griew! At the heart of our political system is a principle called 'Responsible Government'. This means that Government is responsible to the people through its Parliament and its elected representatives.

"The Health Minister's absence from the public debate is astonishing, and his five minute speech in parliament yesterday, farcical.

"At least the Education Minister had the courage to debate the Middle Schools shemozzle in Parliament. The Health Minister has brought nothing of any substance on in two days.

"The Health Minister is presiding over the lowest ebb ever in Health Service delivery in the Territory's history and he's staying mum on the issue. He has demonstrated himself to be indifferent to what's happening in Health and like the Education Minister, they should be thinking of retirement.

"It is now time for the Chief Minister to step in and drop the axe on this Minister. I don't think he'd even mind too much if it fell.

"What is needed in times of crisis is leadership and it is overdue that the Chief Minister should show some leadership.”

2006-03-29