The Greens have accused Labor of scare mongering to score political points by falsely claiming Williamstown Hospital emergency department was in danger of closing.
Greens MP Sue Pennicuik gained a commitment during the recent parliamentary budget estimates inquiry from Labor Health Minister Jill Hennessy that the ED would remain open.
Under questioning, Ms Hennessy told the inquiry the Western Health board had identified ways to pay back $5 million in funding to the federal government.
The federal government has claimed Victorian hospital activity was incorrectly reported, and that the state government was overpaid.
As reported by Star Weekly, Ms Hennessy last month warned the loss of $73.2 million in federal funding could mean the imminent closure of the hospital emergency departments, claiming legal action in the High Court had been launched to prevent this.
But this month, Ms Hennessy told the inquiry the state government would keep open hospital ED wards until court matters were resolved.
“We are going to keep investing to keep emergency access for those communities, but we are not prepared to let the federal government off the hook,” the minister said. “It’s time to end the state-federal health funding blame game,” Ms Pennicuik responded.
