S1: The state government today has moved to speed up the
S1: process of bringing the public element of the Northern Beaches Hospital,
S1: which is operated by Healthscope, back under control of the
S1: state government. Now, you know, we've focused a lot on
S1: this issue on the station over the past couple of
S1: months following the tragic death of Joe Massa. Joe Massa
S1: may well be alive if the Northern Beaches emergency Department
S1: was not operated by a private operator, because, let's be clear,
S1: they took shortcuts when they put that that department together.
S1: Software system wasn't up to speed. As we've been reporting. Healthscope,
S1: the owners of the hospital, they're in administration and they've
S1: put their hand up and they've told the state government, yes,
S1: we want to do a deal. We want to negotiate
S1: change here, but it's not easy. And Daniel Wilkie's involved
S1: in the negotiations. The treasurer at the moment, it's going
S1: to drag out and drag out. Well, the government today
S1: has announced they're going to make some adjustments, some amendments
S1: to legislation that's been introduced by the independent member for Wakehurst,
S1: Michael Regan. And the government is saying what this would do.
S1: It would mean that they would then have the ability
S1: to basically take control. They'd be able to step in effectively.
S1: And yes, there would still be an independent body that
S1: would decide on how much Healthscope would pay. But effectively,
S1: if these negotiations just keep if they're not resolved, the
S1: government will step in. Michael Regan joins us. Hello, Michael.
S2: Good afternoon sir.
S1: Your legislation before Parliament next week. Daniel, Mookie and Ryan
S1: Park have announced these amendments today. Is this is this
S1: a good step?
S2: I think it's a great step because we're all over
S2: waiting for this negotiation to continue. It's in the hands
S2: of receivers who are now slowing this process down. And
S2: as the treasurer put it, they are looking to eke tens,
S2: hundreds of millions of dollars potentially out of future profits.
S2: And that's just not right, because they're trying to use
S2: the terms of the crappy deed and PGP that was signed.
S1: I made the point when this story first broke, and
S1: when Healthscope put their hands up and said, look, this
S1: is before they went into administration. I made the point
S1: this was going to be a very long and drawn
S1: out process, because there'll be after money. And Daniel Mookie
S1: made it clear that he wasn't going to let them
S1: profit from it. Are you confident this is going to
S1: actually speed it up?
S2: I think so, because from what the way it's been
S2: presented to myself as the person who introduced the bill
S2: on the basis that, like they've said to us, Healthscope
S2: has said we don't want to get a windfall gain,
S2: but we want to do this to the terms of
S2: the the deed. The deed says you get a windfall gain.
S2: So like, well, you're either fair dinkum or you're not.
S2: So I've said, bugger that, I'm putting a piece of
S2: legislation calls your bluff. That's happened. And so the treasurer
S2: and the minister have looked at it and said, we
S2: need some other amendments to this to essentially say that
S2: the because it is dragging out now, they're not doing
S2: this in good faith in the public's view at least.
S2: And from what we can see and where these amendments
S2: seek to say that the Ryan can step in and say,
S2: the minister can step in and say, right, I'm taking
S2: this over as backing the public and the treasurer separately
S2: with an independent person can look at what, if any,
S2: compensation will be made available so we can get on
S2: with returning it back into public hands faster. And that's
S2: the key to it, I guess. And that's the way
S2: it's been presented to myself. And that's why at the
S2: moment I can't see any reason why not to support it.
S2: Because Clinton, you would know The nurses and the staff
S2: there in particular are really suffering, and they're copying this
S2: big time and they've got their own wages dispute. They've
S2: got unpaid wages claim for fair work. It just goes on.
S2: When's it going to end? They just they're getting paid
S2: less than the current public nurses. So and they're getting
S2: paid less than their counterparts in Queensland. Like it's just crazy.
S1: Well I don't have a great deal of confidence. After
S1: speaking with Daniel Mookie last week on this show, Michael,
S1: that if he makes a saving in this area, he's
S1: going to throw it towards the nurses. He's now put
S1: it over to the Industrial Relations Commission. But I agree
S1: the sentiment should mean the nurses get some more money.
S1: I doubt that's going to happen, but I appreciate you
S1: campaigning on this because I think it's such an important issue.
S2: Yeah, I do too. And I just don't want the
S2: New South Wales taxpayers. You know, it's not just that
S2: the northern beaches, it's about the New South Wales taxpayers
S2: not giving contributing a cent to what's going on there
S2: because this is about they've put profit ahead of patient
S2: care and that's been demonstrated time and time again. Wait
S2: till you start reading the submissions as they come through
S2: the the latest parliamentary inquiry. It is shocking that's coming
S2: from those who were inside, those who are dealing with
S2: it on a daily basis, and they're telling their stories
S2: and it's crazy.
S1: Good on you, Michael. Michael Regan, who's the member for Wakehurst?