CHIEF Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallager’s decision to send Dr Chris Bourke in her stead to the Australian Health Minister’s Conference has caused uproar among the Opposition.

Shadow Health Minister Jeremy Hanson said Katy Gallagher’s distraction from Canberra’s ailing health system has been demonstrated after giving the least-experienced MLA in the Assembly what appears to be partial responsibility over her $1 billion portfolio.

“Health Minister Katy Gallagher has sent Chris Bourke to important events on her behalf, including the recent Australian Health Minister’s Conference which dealt with important matters with local and national implications,” Mr Hanson said.

“It’s unsatisfactory that the ACT’s own Health Minister isn’t representing Canberra’s best interests, and is instead sending an MLA with less than six weeks’ experience.

“Katy handed over education when the government closed schools.

“Katy handed over Treasury after bringing in the biggest debts and deficits in Territory history.

“Now she’s palming off the integral, decision-making parts of the most expensive portfolio in the territory to the least experienced MLA in the Assembly.

“I urge her to give our health system the attention it needs, or hand it over altogether, but not to the least experienced MLA.”