“No one is safe from the ACT government and no one can trust them. If they want anything they will ram through laws to take it,” said Acting Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson on the news that the ACT Supreme Court had dismissed Calvary Health Care’s bid to stop the ACT government from taking over Calvary Public Hospital.

The ACT government welcomed the Supreme Court’s Friday decision that upheld the validity of the Health Infrastructure Enabling Act 2023.

“The ACT government is conscious that Calvary’s challenge to Health Infrastructure Enabling Regulation 2023 remains on foot, and accordingly, any comments we can make are limited,” the government said in a media statement.

“However, aspects of the transition process that have now been found to be valid under the Act can commence. The Transition Team will formalise a transition plan with Calvary early next week, which will guide how the transition period will be managed operationally.”

Calvary had argued before the court it would not get just terms in compensation and claimed the bill, passed by the Legislative Assembly for the compulsory acquisition, was invalid.

Justice David Mossop dismissed Calvary’s application and removed restrictions that had prevented ACT government staff from accessing the site.

The court is yet to make findings on some of Calvary’s arguments against the regulations dictating the process around the acquisition.

“After two decades in power the ACT Labor/Greens government are behaving like bullies,” said Hanson.

“Although they have given themselves the power to forcibly take Calvary it doesn’t make it the right thing to do.

“It is undemocratic, it is anti-business, it is traumatising nurses and doctors and could put the delivery of clinical services at risk.”

The ACT government intends to take control of the hospital from July 3.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said: “We will also work as quickly as possible with Calvary to come to a final decision on the future operation of Clare Holland House and the associated palliative care services.

“I am conscious that Clare Holland House staff continue to face uncertainty, but I can assure them that our conversations with Calvary reflect the feedback that we have already heard and we will engage with them directly as soon as possible.”