BAIT_MAN
05-02-2006, 02:02 PM
Report from the Sunday Mail 05/02/2006
"Premier Peter Beattie has threatened to quit politics within months if he is unable to turn around Queensland's health crisis.
The Sunday Mail newspaper has reported Mr Beattie, who has led Labor for the past decade in the state, would hand over the reins to his deputy Anna Bligh if he is unable to show any gains in fixing the problem by October.
The revelation follows a poll that showed Mr Beattie's personal approval rating had dropped to an all-time low of 33 per cent in the wake of the damaging health crisis.
The Labor government, in power since 1998, had fallen behind the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis for the first time.
Mr Beattie, who has been in strife since allegations of malpractice by a foreign-trained surgeon surfaced at Bundaberg Hospital last year, last week offloaded his treasury and sport portfolios to focus on solving the health crisis.
"I am fighting for my political life," he told the Sunday Mail.
"For me it is do-or-die time."
On Friday he admitted he had "seven or eight months" to solve the problem and regain his reputation, with an election due by May next year.
He confirmed he had told Labor MPs at a retreat on the Sunshine Coast he would relinquish his leadership to Ms Bligh if he was unable to solve the crisis.
"I have to take personal responsibility for this," he said.
Resigning by October would give Ms Bligh, who was promoted to Treasurer last week, time to establish her credentials before the election.
But Mr Beattie will not go without a fight, with a full-page advertisement published on Saturday outlining his steps to fix the problem.
On Friday, he announced massive pay increases for senior doctors to address the ongoing skills shortage in the state.
Meanwhile, reports indicate Maryborough hospital's emergency department was on the brink of closure because of doctor shortages.
Caboolture has already been forced to limit its emergency ward operational hours due to shortages."
"Premier Peter Beattie has threatened to quit politics within months if he is unable to turn around Queensland's health crisis.
The Sunday Mail newspaper has reported Mr Beattie, who has led Labor for the past decade in the state, would hand over the reins to his deputy Anna Bligh if he is unable to show any gains in fixing the problem by October.
The revelation follows a poll that showed Mr Beattie's personal approval rating had dropped to an all-time low of 33 per cent in the wake of the damaging health crisis.
The Labor government, in power since 1998, had fallen behind the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis for the first time.
Mr Beattie, who has been in strife since allegations of malpractice by a foreign-trained surgeon surfaced at Bundaberg Hospital last year, last week offloaded his treasury and sport portfolios to focus on solving the health crisis.
"I am fighting for my political life," he told the Sunday Mail.
"For me it is do-or-die time."
On Friday he admitted he had "seven or eight months" to solve the problem and regain his reputation, with an election due by May next year.
He confirmed he had told Labor MPs at a retreat on the Sunshine Coast he would relinquish his leadership to Ms Bligh if he was unable to solve the crisis.
"I have to take personal responsibility for this," he said.
Resigning by October would give Ms Bligh, who was promoted to Treasurer last week, time to establish her credentials before the election.
But Mr Beattie will not go without a fight, with a full-page advertisement published on Saturday outlining his steps to fix the problem.
On Friday, he announced massive pay increases for senior doctors to address the ongoing skills shortage in the state.
Meanwhile, reports indicate Maryborough hospital's emergency department was on the brink of closure because of doctor shortages.
Caboolture has already been forced to limit its emergency ward operational hours due to shortages."