The ACT Greens have ruled out supporting a motion of no-confidence in Chief Minister Katy Gallagher which will be moved by Opposition Leader Zed Seselja.
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Mr Seselja will give formal notice of the move tomorrow morning because of Ms Gallagher’s her “repeated, serious failings’’ in the health portfolio.
The Assembly will be adjourned until next Wednesday when the motion will be debated.
Mr Seselja said Ms Gallagher had repeatedly failed to disclose the extent of her relationship with former Canberra Hospital executive Kate Jackson, who admitted to doctoring emergency department waiting time records.
“Since the scandal was exposed in April this year, Katy Gallagher repeatedly failed to disclose the extent of her close relationship with the health executive,’’ Mr Seselja said.
“Just weeks ago, it was revealed that she holidayed in France with the executive. This comes down to a question of honesty and integrity, and Katy Gallagher has abjectly failed.
“Katy Gallagher has led Canberra’s health system to become the worst in the country, has overseen a sick system which led to the mass falsification of health records, and has kept Canberrans in the dark about her involvement in this most serious scandal.
“This is Katy Gallagher’s legacy as Health Minister, and it’s untenable for her to remain in this position.’’
Greens Leader Meredith Hunter ruled out supporting the no-confidence motion and criticised Mr Seselja for proposing it.
“It is a political stunt and I don’t think it would be a secret to people across Canberra that Zed Seselja doesn’t want Katy Gallagher to be Chief Minister but he doesn’t need to move a motion to show that,’’ Ms Hunter said.
“What he does need to be doing is understanding there’s an election coming up and if he puts out his vision and his policies and his ideas that’s the way to change the face of ACT politics.
“Unfortunately what we’ve seen from the Canberra Liberals is no policy.’’
Ms Gallagher dismissed the no confidence bid as: “politics pure and simple’’.
The Chief Minister also denied she had “failed’’ in the health portfolio.
“Go and have a look at the new services that are offered, go and have a look at the new wards, go and have a look at the new women’s and children’s hospital, go and have a look at the new acute mental health unit,’’ Ms Gallagher said.
“Look at the cancer centre coming out of the ground, and then go across town and have a look at all the community health centres that are being opened, things like the new walk-in centre and then say that’s a failure.
“I don’t think people would believe that.’’
Labor has seven members in the 17-seat Legislative Assembly and governs with the support of four Greens. The Liberals hold six seats.
Mr Seselja will give notice of the no-confidence motion tomorrow morning after Ms Gallagher makes a formal apology to ACT victims of past forced adoption practices.
The Assembly was due to debate the budget next week before going into recess until after the October election.
The no-confidence motion will be the 10th moved against a Chief Minister since the ACT was granted self-government in 1989.
Before giving notice of the no-confidence motion tomorrow, Mr Seselja will wait for the Government to make a formal apology to victims of past adoption practices.
The effective loss of four sitting days means the Assembly will sit late into the night next Wednesday and Thursday and hold a special Friday sitting which could also continue late into the night.
The Assembly is in its final sitting fortnight before the election.
