Opposition Leader Bryan Green produced documents showing 16 health staff had not had their fixed-term contracts renewed and another 12 had resigned since the Liberals claimed power.

Among those to leave the Health Department were front line staff including a paramedic intern, clinical nurse and child protection worker.

Mr Green labelled Estimates ‘‘an inglorious master class in the art of dodging questions’’, saying the figures should have been outlined last week.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson hit back, saying Labor were conducting ‘‘opposition by FOI’’ to concoct a scare campaign of ‘‘farcical levels’’.

But Mr Green said the government  was either wilfully misleading Parliament or complicit in a ‘‘cover-up’’.

‘‘Your ministers repeatedly refuse to outline where job cuts would be made, claiming the detail was not available,’’ Mr Green said.

‘‘The only way we can get information is from Right to Information requests because we can’t get any straight answers from the government,’’ he said.

‘‘We now know it cut 16 jobs in the health sector almost immediately after the election.’’

Mr Ferguson said not renewing fixed-term positions was not tantamount to sacking staff, highlighting the practice was prevalent under the former government.

The Health Minister again insisted reducing the public sector by 700 staff would not threaten front line services.

A government spokeswoman later confirmed some positions left vacant by the documented resignations s had already been refilled.