Restoring the reputation: Minister Springborg discusses his portfolio
On Wednesday 20 August, the Property Council hosted Hon. Lawrence Springborg MP, Minister for Health at a breakfast with over 290 property professionals.
The Minister’s address focused on the success and growth of the health portfolio over the past two and a half years, and the opportunities for future partnerships between the Queensland Government and the private sector.
The Minister began by stating that he was acutely aware of the large proportion of tax payer dollars that are allocated to his department and assured the audience that commercial viability was at the heart of every decision made in his portfolio.
During his presentation the Minister discussed the progression plans for the move towards hospital boards with the aim to providing greater agency for hospitals to manage their own planning, design and delivery.
Reducing waiting times across a number of service delivery areas has also been a key focus since 2012, and the Minister announced a number of waiting lists that have been drastically reduced, or in some cases eliminated during this term in office.
Importantly for the property sector, the Minister announced that the Queensland Government is open to unsolicited proposals for health infrastructure, and reinforced the importance of maintaining the intellectual property of the innovative ideas brought forward by the private sector.
Minister Springborg also discussed the opportunities for innovative modular health facilities that could be delivered for regional areas.
During the Q&A session the Minister discussed the Government’s focus on the goals of the Queensland Plan and importance of delivering strategies to address mental health issues and closing the life expectancy gap for Queenslanders.
The Property Council would like to sincerely thank the Minister for giving his annual address to the Property Council and for his ongoing support of, and engagement with our industry. Special thanks must also go to Turner & Townsend for their support and sponsorship of this event.
Thanks to:
Hon. Lawrence Springborg MP – Minister for Health
Hon. Lawrence Springborg MP – Minister for Health & Kathy Mac Dermott – Property Council of Australia
Kim Hayes – Turner & Townsend
Stephen Pincus – Queensland University of Technology, Ryan Murphy – Lend Lease & Natalie Wilde – Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Alan Mayer – Health Infrastructure Branch & Russell Martoo – RCP
Tony Young – BDO & Joanna Cogill – Q-Scan Services
Raynuha Sinnathamby – Springfield Land Corporation and President of the Property Council of Australia QLD Division, Hon. Lawrence Springborg MP – Minister for Health, Kim Hayes – Turner & Townsend & Kathy Mac Dermott – Property Council of Australia