'Breathtaking incompetence': Health Workers Union calls for Premier to sack Health Minister - The Age

In an explosive letter, a health union has demanded the sacking of Health Minister Jenny Mikakos - who is due to front the hotel quarantine inquiry today – saying locked-down Victorians are paying the price for her incompetence.

Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar has written to Premier Daniel Andrews calling on him to remove Ms Mikakos for "breathtaking incompetence".

Health Workers Union is calling on Daniel Andrews to sack Health Minister Jenny Mikakos.Credit:Joe Armao

The letter was prompted by a meeting between Ms Mikakos and the union on Monday over plans for a Public Private Partnership with rebuilding plans for Frankston Hospital.

"Leaving aside the issue of privatising non-clinical public health jobs in the middle of a pandemic and a failure to consult ... Ms Mikakos failed to answer simple questions," the letter reads.

"She had no understanding of the difference between clinical roles and non-clinical roles within a hospital, nor could she comprehend the details of the PPP proposal.

"She instead referred to scripted notes 'thanking frontline hero health workers for their hard work'."

Ms Asmar said her union's relationship with the Andrews government was "officially dead".

"Since your government's re-election in 2018, we have seen repeated mismanagement of the Victorian health system by Minister Mikakos. All Victorians are seemingly paying the price for her incompetence," the letter reads.

The letter lists a number of what Ms Asmar sees as the health minister's failings, including accusations that the Minister's office was "utterly dysfunctional" and failed to consult the union before major announcements during the pandemic.

Ms Asmar, whose union represents thousands of hospital and aged care workers, predicts the continuation of infections in aged care facilities due to inadequate PPE supplies and protocols, a situation which she solely blames Ms Mikakos and her portfolio for.

"We are currently in September, and as long as Minister Mikakos and DHHS insist on the existing tiered guidelines to PPE in aged care, it is our view that Victoria will not achieve its infection targets to warrant a return to even Stage 2 lockdowns. Many more deaths in Victorian aged care homes will ensue," she writes.

The letter ends with a cutting of ties between the union and the Labor government.

Diana Asmar before the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

"In short, Ms Mikakos through her incompetence has turned the HWU, a once supportive stakeholder of your government into an actively hostile one," it reads.

"There is only one solution. For the good of your government, for the good of health workers I represent, and for the good of all Victorians, Ms Mikakos must go."

When contacted by The Age Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait declined to comment on the contents of the letter, but noted that the medical lobby group had raised its concerns about the Andrews' government's handling of the pandemic at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry and hotel quarantine inquiry.

"As the minister [Jenny Mikakos] is about to give evidence today it seems inappropriate to preempt the findings of the Coate inquiry," Professor Rait said.

"While the AMA has provided evidence to two inquiries and been scathing in our criticism of the Department of Health and Human Services, the AMA remains focused on the relevant issues that concern our members. We wish to see a restructure of DHHS, a review of devolved governance arrangements and improved organisational processes including a more meaningful engagement of DHHS with healthcare workers including general practitioners."

Health and community services union secretary Paul Healey declined to be drawn into calls for Ms Mikakos to be sacked, however, he said he was strongly opposed to the government's decision to rebuild the Frankston Hospital as a public-private partnership.

"It's against labor values to continue to privatise jobs and contract them out," Mr Healey said.

"We saw what happened with the disability sector and we see what happens COVID when you have a fragmented health system.

"They're talking about secure employment, so why put people into insecure employment when they have a choice?"

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation have been contacted for comment, while the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said it would not be commenting on the letter or Victorian matters.

Ms Mikakos' office has been contacted for response. Ms Asmar has also been contacted for comment.

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2020-09-23 22:51:00Z
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