Tuesday September 1, 2020
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s pre-election promise of more cash for Cairns Hospital proves her government has failed to plan for the last five years, the LNP said today.
LNP leader Deb Frecklington said the hospital was facing bed shortages in the next two years because Labor had forgotten the Far North.
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s promise to invest $26.4m to expand the hospital’s emergency department is an exact match of the LNP’s previously announced commitment to upgrade the over-stretched department.
The LNP also attacked Labor’s failure to deal with the youth crime explosion in Far North Queensland and provide extra police – in stark contrast with the LNP’s commitment to recruit an extra 60 officers.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is desperately trying to patch up the problems her government has ignored for the last five years,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Labor have failed to provide the basic investment Cairns Hospital has been crying out for.
“That’s why almost one in four emergency patients were not being treated on time before the covid crisis began.
“The soft-on-crime Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed to commit any extra police to Cairns despite the city’s shocking rise in crime.
“The LNP will recruit an extra 60 police – but Labor will not boost policing because it will be another admission of failure.
“Labor’s spin can’t hide the fact they have failed the Far North on health, crime and unemployment.
“Only the LNP has a plan to cut crime, reduce hospital waiting lists and create more jobs.
“Only an LNP Government will get far North Queensland working again.”
