Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson, deputy opposition leader, today moved a motion of no-confidence in mental health minister Emma Davidson.
The motion was defeated.
Mr Hanson’s motion followed revelations last week that ACT patient health records were deliberately sent to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) without consent and what the Liberals called Ms Davidson’s “atrocious” response.
Mr Hanson said this latest poor performance by Ms Davidson was just another in a long line by a Minister not there on merit, but merely a backroom deal done between Labor and the Greens.
“Under this Minister, we have seen the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit become unsafe for nurses and patients, requiring WorkSafe ACT to step in; no clarity on the death of a patient in a mental health facility; a report highlighting dysfunction and a toxic environment within her own office; and now a serious breach of patient records,” Mr Hanson said.
- ACT Government will implement all Dhulwa recommendations (7 February)
- ACT’s Dhulwa mental health unit ‘dysfunctional’, report finds (2 December 2022)
- 18-year-old man charged with murder after Canberra Hospital incident (13 November 2022)
- Police investigate death of woman at Dhulwa Mental Health Unit (25 September 2021)
“Ms Davidson has been aware that private health records were deliberately leaked to a union for some time, and instead of fronting up and alerting the public, she remained silent until the breach was brought to light by the Canberra Liberals,” Mr Hanson said.
“This is a common pattern by Ms Davidson who has continually failed vulnerable Canberrans in her position as Mental Health Minister and has shown time and time again she is simply not up to the job.
“Ms Davidson was brought kicking and screaming to commission a review into Dhulwa as nurses were being repeatedly assaulted by patients at the facility.
“When a review into her office highlighted dysfunction and a toxic environment, Ms Davidson subsequently misled the public about complaints made against her by staff.
“On each of these occasions where Ms Davidson has been found wanting as a Minister, her response to these serious issues has been to go into hiding and then refuse to be upfront with Canberrans.
“If members of Labor and the Greens do not join the Canberra Liberals and condemn this Minister, it just highlights their political alliance is more important to them than the people of Canberra.”
