Assistant Health Minister Julieanne Gilbert says she does not want to be promoted to Health Minister even if the premier was to personally ask her and she says the Opposition has ‘no answers’ on issues surrounding Mackay and Gladstone hospitals.
It comes after the Mackay MP’s superior Yvette D’Ath will soon lose her portfolio as Annastacia Palaszczuk switches up her cabinet.
It was revealed Ms D’Ath was told she would lose her portfolio just minutes before holding a press conference on ongoing DNA issues.
Mrs Gilbert said Ms D’Ath as well as Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard and Housing Minister Leanne Enoch were “not getting the chop” but rather there was a “shuffle” within the ranks.
“(D’Ath) has been going 24/7 flat out for so long that there’s always opportunities for fresh sets of eyes in portfolios and that’s what happening,” Mrs Gilbert said.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath will soon lose her portfolio. Picture Lachie Millard
She further praised Ms D’Ath for how she handled the crises which for years have plagued Mackay Base Hospital’s maternity, obstetrics and urologist departments, resulting in the sacking of the entire hospital board, and the suspension of two doctors following myriad botched surgeries.
“The way that the Minister (D’Ath) dealt with the issues around the obstetrics in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service was outstanding,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“She took it head on and she didn’t flinch and she made sure that we got to the bottom of the issues.”
She said it was a “very drastic” move to sack the board and they had made changes including those put forward after an extensive external review.
Assistant Health Minister, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, at her pop-up stall in Caneland Central shopping centre on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the day after the premier announced changes to the cabinet. Picture: Heidi Petith
Mrs Gilbert said she could not reveal who Palaszczuk had chosen to replace the three ministers but the Labor government had “ministers who could pick up any portfolio and run with it.”
It’s understood current Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman will be sworn in as Health Minister.
Mrs Gilbert said she was confident the shuffle would not kill Labor’s come the 2024 election adding she was keen to work with the new Health Minister to roll out more changes across the state’s hospitals.
She further slammed the opposition’s Ros Bates and David Crisafulli who made no qualms about highlighting issues within Queensland Health, particularly concerning Mackay and Gladstone.
“It’s easy for someone to stand up and say this is not good enough but they’ve got no answers,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“They’re just playing cheap politics and making people fearful.”
In addressing why she herself had not been more outspoken on MHHS issues, Mrs Gilbert said “there was no way in the world” she would make comments while the review was under way.
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