The Mercury,, Saturday: Hospital freeze a smokescreen

SUE NEALES, The Mercury, Friday:

THE Tasmanian Liberals were in disarray last night after an astonishingly confused response to the latest shock revelations surrounding the future of the Royal Hobart Hospital. Premier Paul Lennon revealed on Wednesday that the Government could not build a new hospital because of a deal signed by the former Liberal government. Mr Lennon said the Government was bound by the secret legal contract with the adjacent Hobart Private Hospital, which prevents the antiquated public RHH moving to a new site before 2018. Liberal spokesman on the Royal Will Hodgman yesterday admitted he was not aware of any such binding arrangement. … “I was in Government as Cabinet secretary at the time and I remember it well. It was a good deal for Tasmania,” Mr Hidding said.

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SUE NEALES, The Mercury, Thursday:

A NEW $500 million hospital will not be built in Hobart because of deals signed by the former Liberal government, says Premier Paul Lennon.

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MICHELLE PAINE, The Mercury, Wednesday:

THE State Government says building a new Royal Hobart Hospital is too expensive — but it refuses to release its review into a greenfield site. Health and Human Services Minister David Llewellyn said yesterday the report would not be ready until mid-year — but pre-empted it by saying a new centre would cost $500 million.  His comments came as medical groups said the Royal was being destroyed by politicians’ fear of backlash in marginal electorates.

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