WHAT WE KNOW
Friday is the day the Mersey Community Hospital’s new funding agreement should be signed.
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According to a clause in the heads of agreement, signed by then Labor Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne in 2014, a new contract should be completed three months before funding expires.
If a new agreement is not signed before March 31 the Commonwealth must apply for a hospital licence.
ROLLING COVERAGE
UPDATE 1PM:
Mersey Hospital receives ‘in-principle agreement’: Ferguson
Health Minister Michael Ferguson has declared a “formal announcement” about the future of the Mersey Community Hospital would soon be made – and it would be good for Tasmania.
“I am very pleased to be able to say we have reached an in-principle agreement with the Commonwealth for a deal for the Mersey,” he said.
Speaking in South Burnie on Friday afternoon Mr Ferguson insisted he was not “avoiding the question” about the hospital’s future, but said a “out of courtesy” a formal process needed to be followed.
“It is going right now through the final stages of formal approval and formal, if you like, sign off,” he said.
“That in-principle deal is very good for Tasmania.
“We’ve set aside any suggestion of a June 30 problem or any suggestion of transitional arrangements.”
Mr Ferguson said he visited the Mersey Community Hospital on Thursday and spoke with staff to reassure them “they needn’t worry about their jobs or the hospital”.
He said there had been an exchange of letters between the state and federal governments and now a formal process was required to sign off on the deal.
“The moment that ink is wet on the page there will be a further announcement and the community will have all of the necessary details,” he said.
Mr Ferguson repeatedly said he was not in a position to give further details when pressed by the media.
UPDATE 12.30PM:
Will the federal Health Minister visit?
Fairfax Media has asked the office of federal Health Minister Greg Hunt whether he would visit the region next week to announce a deal regarding the Mersey Community Hospital.
A Commonwealth Government spokesman responded with a statement.
“The Commonwealth and Tasmania have made significant progress on the principles for a funding agreement for Mersey Hospital,” it read.
“We are confident of a positive outcome well in advance of the 30 June deadline.”
UPDATE 11.45AM:
‘STAND UP FOR TASMANIA’: UNION
The assistant secretary of Tasmania's Health and Community Services Union has called on the state Liberals to stand up to their Canberra counterparts - like South Australia's Premier did.
HACSU assistant state secretary Robbie Moore said Tasmanian Health Minister Michael Ferguson should stand up for the Mersey Community Hospital, like South Australia's Jay Weatherill did during the energy debate.
Earlier this month Mr Weatherill used a press conference to publicly lambast federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg for his comments about South Australia.
"We'd like to see the state Liberal Government do something like that and stand up to Canberra," Mr Moore said.
"It's really disappointing and we're really concerned they're not standing up to their federal colleages to get this resolved."
Mr Moore said the mood at the hospital was sombre as employees wait for an announcement on the hospital's future.
"There's a lot of concern and anger in that one; they're not hearing anything and two; they're seeing services being reduced at the hospital," he said.
UPDATE 10.45AM:
On Friday morning Federal Member for Braddon Justine Keay called on both the state and federal Health Ministers to clarify if they have made a formal agreement to extend negotiations about the future of the Mersey Community Hospital.
“Both Michael Ferguson and Greg Hunt need to state clearly whether they have formally exchanged letters as per the terms of the current agreement,” she said.
“The expiry date for the exchange of letters is today.
“If this has not happened then the Federal Government needs to have applied for a licence to continue management of the hospital.
“Saying that negotiations are continuing just does not cut it.”
Ms Keay said the community needed “a clear picture of what is happening at the Mersey”.
“For months, Malcolm Turnbull and Will Hodgman have left our community in the dark,” she said.
“We’re just three months away from the current funding expiring – Mr Turnbull and Mr Hodgman need to sort this out urgently.”
10AM UPDATE:
Today is the day
Health Minister Michael Ferguson is expected to address questions about the Mersey Community Hospital when he fronts the media in Burnie this afternoon to launch the government’s Blueprint for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
His office is remaining tight-lipped on any potential announcement about the Mersey Community Hospital ahead of the press conference.