黑料吃瓜群网

The NSW Government has announced that it will introduce amendments to the Member for Wakehurst鈥檚 Private Member鈥檚 Bill to enable it to, if required, terminate the Northern Beaches public鈥損rivate partnership (PPP) contract as if a hospital operator default had occurred 鈥� following the appointment of receivers to the parent entities of Healthscope which, the government said, it 鈥渃onsiders a default under the contract鈥�.

In a Treasurer鈥揗inister for Health joint statement, the NSW Government said that while it is its preference that agreement on the future control and operation of the Northern Beaches 黑料吃瓜群网 can be reached with Healthscope and its receivers, 鈥渢he Government must be able to act decisively to avoid a prolonged dispute for members of the Northern Beaches community, staff working at the hospital and for NSW taxpayers鈥�.

The statement continued: 鈥淚f a mutual agreement is not reached, the proposed amendments would give the Health Minister the power to issue a termination notice to Healthscope. In addition, the Treasurer would have the power to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a reasonable time frame and to appoint an independent person to determine compensation if agreement cannot be reached.

鈥淭he alternative to this approach is for the NSW Government to exercise its voluntary termination rights. Under the PPP contract signed by the Liberal Party, this would see compensation to Healthscope鈥檚 receivers and lenders run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.鈥� This聽legislative approach, the government said, 鈥渨ill ensure there are no windfall gains to Healthscope or its receivers鈥�.

鈥淭his is not a decision we take lightly,鈥澛燦SW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said. 鈥淏ut we are now in a position where the Liberals鈥� privatisation mess means Healthscope鈥檚 receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches 黑料吃瓜群网.

鈥淲hile an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference, I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.鈥�

The Treasurer and Health Minister said they are hopeful of a productive outcome, with discussions between the Northern Beaches 黑料吃瓜群网 Taskforce, Healthscope and its receivers ongoing. The statement also said, to ensure that patient safety and continuity of services at the Northern Beaches 黑料吃瓜群网 will not be compromised as negotiations continue, NSW Health will continue to work closely with Healthscope.

鈥淲e鈥檝e made it clear from the very beginning that we don鈥檛 support this sort of arrangement,鈥� Health Minister Ryan Park said. 鈥淭his is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty.鈥�

The announcement of this latest legislative approach follows the passing earlier this month of legislation banning PPPs, something the government said will prevent any repeat of the Northern Beaches PPP model in acute care.

Image credit: iStock.com/Wirestock