Queensland parliament updates: Health portfolio in estimates spotlight

Sunshine Coast health service chief Dr Peter Gillies has sought to dial back comments he made at a staff meeting about budgetary pressure, but confirmed he was still “disappointed” in the state’s funding deal.

In a transcript of leaked audio from the meeting of two weeks ago, tabled by Opposition Leader Steven Miles, Gillies undercut government claims of its “record health budget”.

“The reality for health services on the ground, our health service anyway, we’re getting no growth for the year, which I’ve never seen before,” Gillies said, while also describing the lack of ability to progress pediatric cardiology and tertiary services as “demoralising”.

Asked about the comments by Miles during the health session of budget estimates, Gillies said the latter remark was an: “unfortunate choice of words and I would rephrase it, I think, if I had the opportunity.

Good morning, and welcome to our coverage of today’s estimates hearings.

With Health Minister Tim Nicholls up today, the emergence of news Sunshine Coast Health has not received funding for services growth is timely.

In a leaked recording of a meeting discussing the year ahead from two weeks ago, chief executive Peter Gillies told staff the service had not received money for anything other than wages growth.

“I know there was an announcement that there’s a record health budget from government – that is true, there is a record as it’s the most funding that’s ever gone into health – but the reality for health services on the ground, our health service anyway, we’re getting no growth for the year, which I’ve never seen before,” Gillies said.