Governments have a habit of revealing information when it suits them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was no coincidence that one of the most significant updates on Calvary Health Care's unsolicited bid for a private co-located hospital - the government's preferred location - came the same day as a damning Auditor-General report into the state's four major hospitals.
This was on May 29 - and at the time then health minister Michael Ferguson said the government was committed to ensuring the community's best interests were at the centre of any future plans.
Yet more than four months on and there seem to be more questions than answers around what this proposal will look like, who it will impact and how it will fit into the broader Launceston General Hospital masterplan.
More so, the vision of creating a regional city of choice for healthcare professionals - something we are struggling with significantly.
Calvary has been offering private health care in Launceston for a very long time and has clearly recognised the need for change.
For a project of this scale, it's important all the right boxes are ticked and there is no doubt the government is following due process.
But it is also no secret that the state's public health system is under unprecedented pressure.
Therefore, anything the government can do to ensure Tasmania's private health system is supported should be done.
The process around a project that could help revolutionise healthcare and provide better outcomes for Northern Tasmanians should be as open and transparent as possible.
The dialogue about the benefits should be clear, the community deserves to be consulted with, and business must be informed so they can plan to leverage off the investment.
The same process could be said for the plan to build a Northern prison.
It is incumbent on the government and private investors to sell their grand visions and bring the community along with it for the best outcome.