The Opposition Leader has today called for the Malinauskas Government to start being truthful with the people of South Australia about the state of the health system instead of spending huge amounts of money on spin and advertising.
The Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia said instead of spending taxpayer dollars on health spin and eight pages of propaganda titled a “Partnership Presentation” the Government should instead partner with the people of South Australia and start delivering what they promised.
“I am deeply concerned this Government is choosing spin over truth,” said Mr Tarzia.
“Peter Malinauskas promised to fix ramping. He hasn’t and now, instead of being honest what does he deliver? Propaganda.
“Today’s ad campaign is part of a $1.9m spend on telling the people of South Australia how good the health system is. South Australians see through the Labor lies.
“We are almost in the middle of October – and only today are they releasing the September numbers which show ramping still at an unacceptable high.
“South Australians deserve better. I think many of them, like me, would be feeling betrayed and let down by this Labor Government.
“For two consecutive months ramping hours exceeded 5000 hours and September still at over 3000 hours – that’s more than 13000 hours lost in three months.
“And we know Adelaide ran out of Emergency Department beds last week.
“This coupled with the shock resignations of RAH Directors and Local Health Network CEOs, are just more examples of the chronic failure of the Labor Government to mend our sick health system,” said Mr Tarzia.
Last month the head of the Premier’s Delivery Unit, Rik Morris told Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee that the Government would likely not be able to fix ramping and the best they could expect was they might make ‘progress’.
“This Labor Government has failed the people of South Australia.
“They were elected on the promise they would fix ramping. They have not done that.
“They had one job – and they’ve failed.
Mr Tarzia said South Australians are well aware the health system is broken.
“On top of spiralling ramping hours, key emergency department doctors have stood down from their roles.
“Doctors and nurses are exhausted, waiting rooms are full and ambulances are lined up on emergency department ramps – our health system has never been in such a state.
