Re-elected Queensland Premier Anna Bligh Changes Health Minister

One of the first acts of Anna Bligh, elected Premier by Queensland, was to appoint her deputy Paul Lucas as the state’s new Health minister.

Ms.Anna Bligh, 49, re-elected Premier of Queensland, Australia, has gone on to appoint her deputy Paul Lucas as the state’s new health minister. It was one of her first tasks on her historic election.

This is the first time ever a woman is elected premier of a state in Australia. Apparently she was anxious to demonstrate she was serious about fixing the state's strained health system.

New Government in Australia Faces Healthcare Challenges
The pressure is being put on the new Government to deliver a solution to Australia’s deteriorating health care system with a focus on the areas of workforce, public hospitals.

She had succeeded Peter Beattie as premier when he resigned in September 2007, and has been duly elected now.

Ms Bligh revealed the key appointment this afternoon in her first media conference since her election victory over the Liberal National Party (LNP) last night.

Mr Lucas, who had responsibility for planning and infrastructure prior to the election, takes over the Health portfolio from Stephen Robertson, whose ministerial future remains unclear under Premier Bligh's new regime.

Row Raging Over Hospital Conditions in Queensland
A blazing row is on over conditions obtaining in public hospitals in Queensland, Australia. While a senior doctor says it is a matter of serious concern, state health minister refutes the charges.

Mr Robertson faced criticism during the election campaign for failing to adequately fix remote nurses' accommodation.

"Queenslanders want me and my government to do better,'' Ms Bligh told reporters in Brisbane, stressing that health was a key concern for voters.

Exhausted Queensland Nurses Consider Prostitution A Better Option
Overworked and exhausted nurses in the state of Queensland in Australia are turning to prostitution as a better option.

The Premier said she had appointed her deputy to take on the challenging role because he had the authority, experience and ability to perform.

"His approach will cut through and get things done,'' Ms Bligh said.

Oil Spill Damage Not Much, but Ecological Fallout Could Last for Months
The damage from the 250-tonne oil spill of the Australian coast could be less than originally apprehended, but the ecological fallout felt for months.

Mr Lucas, who this morning inspected progress on the Moreton Island oil spill clean-up with Ms Bligh, dismissed suggestions the health ministry was a poisoned chalice.

He promised to continue work implementing the five-year health action plan. Mr Lucas said he would focus on improving frontline services, tackling waiting times at emergency departments and improving nurses' accommodation.

Health played a prominent role during the state election campaign, with the LNP urging voters to toss out the State Labor Government because it had failed to fix the health system, and the government suffered a swing against it on election night.

Ms Bligh, who refused during the campaign to guarantee Mr Robertson a post-election Cabinet position, today paid tribute to the man who served in the portfolio for four years.

Mr Robertson had worked hard to implement the health action plan, had begun a significant hospital building program and had cut hospital waiting times for elective surgery to the shortest in the nation, she said.

The premier would not reveal if Mr Robertson would be appointed to another portfolio or be sent to backbench.

Source-Medindia
GPL