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Lucrative payouts for payroll bosses while frontline staff suffer

Health workers still not being paid properly have received another slap in the face from the Bligh Labor Government with reports that some of the architects of the health payroll debacle were given bonuses worth half a million dollars. Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said our diligent health workers had every right to be even angrier today now that it had been exposed that the bureaucrats responsible for the health payroll debacle were among the highest paid fat cats in Queensland.

“Our hardworking doctors and nurses are still not being paid properly and are being forced to make budget cuts, yet the architects of Labor’s health payroll fiasco have been handed huge wads of cash for their role in one of the biggest administrative bungles in Queensland’s history, “ said Mr McArdle.

“Queensland is in a health crisis under Labor.   

“Labor has presided over a $600 million budget blow out, wasted $220 million on the health payroll system, made cuts to life-saving treatment, bungled super clinic deals and is responsible for the ambulance ramping disaster.  

“While Labor is closing hospital beds, the government could easily find $646,000 to pay Health boss Mick Read, and a $220,000 payout for Michael Kalimnios – one of the men responsible for the faulty system going live in the first place.  

 “Meanwhile none of Labor’s incompetent Health Ministers have been held accountable,  and continue to receive their lucrative taxpayer funded salaries. 

“Queensland Health doctors and nurses would be feeling gutted and betrayed today. 

“To rub salt into the wound - Queenslanders learned earlier this week Bligh government bureaucrats outnumbered doctors three to one in parts of the state’s health system.  This only highlights the desperate need for a change of Government. 

“The LNP will restore and revitalise frontline services. 

“We will give Queenslanders better access to more health services,” Mr McArdle said.