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Canberra Today 13°/17° | Saturday, April 27, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Libs ‘no confidence’ move to force shutdown of Assembly

THE ACT Opposition will move a motion of no confidence in Chief Minister Katy Gallagher tomorrow, forcing a week’s shutdown of the Legislative Assembly.

At a press conference today Opposition Leader Zed Seselja (pictured), joined by Liberal health spokesman Jeremy Hanson, said the move was due to Ms Gallagher’s “shocking failings” in the health portfolio, after the heavily criticised data doctoring scandal at the Canberra Hospital.

“We believe the health system is in crisis; it has been going backwards under this government and has gone from one of the best in the country to the worst,” he said.

“In the end, the Chief Minister is responsible for what happens with the health system, she’s responsible for the culture that has been built up under her leadership.”

Under Assembly rules, the chamber will have to adjourn for a week before joining to debate the motion.

Although the Greens had previously promised not to support any other party’s no-confidence motions in their parliamentary agreement, Mr Seselja said he “hopes they will reconsider.”

“Anyone who votes against this motion will be endorsing the state of our health system and the data scandal and the factors and circumstances that surround that data scandal,” he said.

Mr Seselja said Ms Gallagher had “deceived the community” as to the extent of her relationship with former Canberra Hospital executive Kate Jackson, who in April admitted to deliberately altering emergency department waiting time records.

Earlier this month it was revealed Ms Gallagher met Jackson during a 2010 holiday in France.

“One of our jobs is to sometimes say enough is enough,” Mr Seselja said.

“We’ve called for certain documents to be released, that has been rejected. I don’t think the Government wants to get to the bottom of this, because of…who knows where it might lead.”

Mr Hanson said over the weekend there had been further “reported resignations” at the Canberra Hospital which has lead to “extreme stress.”

“The head of the hospital has gone on extended leave…and the director of nursing has also gone…this has left the emergency department under extreme stress,” he said.

“We believe there are very serious matters here to be discussed.”

Mr Seselja will give notice of the no-confidence motion after Ms Gallagher makes a formal apology to ACT victims of past forced adoption practices tomorrow morning.

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