'Good step' - New legislation aims to call Healthscope's 'bluff'

New legislation will aim to call Healthscope's bluff as the government seeks to terminate their contract, according to Independent MP Michael Regan.

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Episode Transcript

S1 (00:00):
The state government today has moved to speed up the
process of bringing the public element of the Northern Beaches Hospital,
which is operated by Healthscope, back under control of the
state government. Now, you know, we've focused a lot on
this issue on the station over the past couple of
months following the tragic death of Joe Massa. Joe Massa
may well be alive if the Northern Beaches emergency Department

(00:22):
was not operated by a private operator, because, let's be clear,
they took shortcuts when they put that that department together.
Software system wasn't up to speed. As we've been reporting. Healthscope,
the owners of the hospital, they're in administration and they've
put their hand up and they've told the state government, yes,
we want to do a deal. We want to negotiate

(00:44):
change here, but it's not easy. And Daniel Wilkie's involved
in the negotiations. The treasurer at the moment, it's going
to drag out and drag out. Well, the government today
has announced they're going to make some adjustments, some amendments
to legislation that's been introduced by the independent member for Wakehurst,
Michael Regan. And the government is saying what this would do.
It would mean that they would then have the ability

(01:07):
to basically take control. They'd be able to step in effectively.
And yes, there would still be an independent body that
would decide on how much Healthscope would pay. But effectively,
if these negotiations just keep if they're not resolved, the
government will step in. Michael Regan joins us. Hello, Michael.

S2 (01:24):
Good afternoon sir.

S1 (01:25):
Your legislation before Parliament next week. Daniel, Mookie and Ryan
Park have announced these amendments today. Is this is this
a good step?

S2 (01:32):
I think it's a great step because we're all over
waiting for this negotiation to continue. It's in the hands
of receivers who are now slowing this process down. And
as the treasurer put it, they are looking to eke tens,
hundreds of millions of dollars potentially out of future profits.
And that's just not right, because they're trying to use
the terms of the crappy deed and PGP that was signed.

S1 (01:55):
I made the point when this story first broke, and
when Healthscope put their hands up and said, look, this
is before they went into administration. I made the point
this was going to be a very long and drawn
out process, because there'll be after money. And Daniel Mookie
made it clear that he wasn't going to let them
profit from it. Are you confident this is going to
actually speed it up?

S2 (02:12):
I think so, because from what the way it's been
presented to myself as the person who introduced the bill
on the basis that, like they've said to us, Healthscope
has said we don't want to get a windfall gain,
but we want to do this to the terms of
the the deed. The deed says you get a windfall gain.
So like, well, you're either fair dinkum or you're not.
So I've said, bugger that, I'm putting a piece of
legislation calls your bluff. That's happened. And so the treasurer

(02:36):
and the minister have looked at it and said, we
need some other amendments to this to essentially say that
the because it is dragging out now, they're not doing
this in good faith in the public's view at least.
And from what we can see and where these amendments
seek to say that the Ryan can step in and say,
the minister can step in and say, right, I'm taking
this over as backing the public and the treasurer separately

(02:56):
with an independent person can look at what, if any,
compensation will be made available so we can get on
with returning it back into public hands faster. And that's
the key to it, I guess. And that's the way
it's been presented to myself. And that's why at the
moment I can't see any reason why not to support it.
Because Clinton, you would know The nurses and the staff
there in particular are really suffering, and they're copying this

(03:18):
big time and they've got their own wages dispute. They've
got unpaid wages claim for fair work. It just goes on.
When's it going to end? They just they're getting paid
less than the current public nurses. So and they're getting
paid less than their counterparts in Queensland. Like it's just crazy.

S1 (03:32):
Well I don't have a great deal of confidence. After
speaking with Daniel Mookie last week on this show, Michael,
that if he makes a saving in this area, he's
going to throw it towards the nurses. He's now put
it over to the Industrial Relations Commission. But I agree
the sentiment should mean the nurses get some more money.
I doubt that's going to happen, but I appreciate you
campaigning on this because I think it's such an important issue.

S2 (03:49):
Yeah, I do too. And I just don't want the
New South Wales taxpayers. You know, it's not just that
the northern beaches, it's about the New South Wales taxpayers
not giving contributing a cent to what's going on there
because this is about they've put profit ahead of patient
care and that's been demonstrated time and time again. Wait
till you start reading the submissions as they come through
the the latest parliamentary inquiry. It is shocking that's coming

(04:10):
from those who were inside, those who are dealing with
it on a daily basis, and they're telling their stories
and it's crazy.

S1 (04:16):
Good on you, Michael. Michael Regan, who's the member for Wakehurst?