STATEMENT FROM LNP SHADOW HEALTH MINISTER ROS BATES ON COVID CLINIC CALAMITY
“What we saw last night outside the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital was appalling and unforgivable,” Ms Bates said.
“The Labor Government put the fear in Queenslanders to get tested but when they answered the call in drovers, they’re turned away.
“I am dismayed as to why this clinic closed at 9pm despite only hours earlier Labor urged anyone from Queensland who’d been to Victoria since December 21 to immediately get tested.
“Health Minister Yvette D’Ath needs to cut short her weekend, front up to the cameras and explain why so many people were turned away.
“Yvette D’Ath is more focused on her cringeworthy puns about when Queenslanders can return to the dance floor, instead of the real issue like properly resourcing COVID clinics.
“We can’t afford one person who may have COVID-19 turned away.
“As a registered nurse, I know the immense pressure our hard working hospital staff are under and this is further proof that Labor doesn’t have a plan when clusters emerge down south.
“Queenslanders are losing trust in Labor’s response.
“Our police officers are patrolling the border 24/7 yet testing clinics are closing at 9pm? It doesn’t make sense.
“I had a frank health briefing with the Chief Health Officer yesterday and urged her to give Queenslanders as much notice as possible to safely return home from Victoria.
“I haven’t seen my children in a year and had no choice but to cancel my trip to Victoria next week, and I urge other Queenslanders to reconsider their plans as well.
“I hope the people who were turned away from RBWH last night are able to get a test today and treat the staff respectfully, as they weren’t the ones responsible for making this dumb decision.
“Labor was quick to close the borders and even quicker to close the clinics.
“Labor won the election on the back of their COVID response but since then they’ve turned their back on all of us.