Geelong
Connecting people and communities
Friday, 18 April, 2014
Phone: 5249 6700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Tim targets friendly fire GEELONG Trades Hall boss Tim Gooden has come under fire from his own side of politics for allegedly being too probusiness. Turn to page 7 to read how he fends off the “communist” attack while explaining his love of medieval archery to the Indy’s Noel Murphy. 118697 Picture: REG RYAN
NET DIVIDE DOWN TO STREETS P3
SHE TALKS TO DEAD PEOPLE P19
MP calls for investigation of hospital funding
$50m deal ‘stinks’ By NOEL MURPHY CALL in the Ombudsman because “something stinks” about a secret $50 million Epworth Hospital deal at Waurn Ponds, says Bellarine MP Lisa Neville. The former Barwon Health chair said the Ombudsman’s office should investigate State Government’s $50 million deal for Epworth to include public health care services within its
proposed private teaching hospital at Deakin Universtiy. The Government struck the deal earlier this month after halting its tender process for a promised public hospital at Waurn Ponds. The Epworth deal involves 32 public beds, same-day surgery theatres, chemotherapy and renal dialysis services within the $277 million teaching hospital, two years behind its initially sched-
uled opening date of May 2013. The deal pushed St John of God, which recently completed a $65 million hospital expansion in Geelong, out of the running. “Ms Neville said the Ombudsman could investigate the dumped tender process, “who stopped it” and the “deals and arrangements” with Epworth,” . “Something stinks about this and I’d certainly be encouraging
the Ombudsman to have an investigation into this matter.” Ms Neville described the Government’s refusal to explain the deal on grounds of commercial confidence as “absolutely too convenient”. “There was a process that was sort of advertised, that St John of God had also submitted for, and out of the blue a letter arrived saying they were suspending the tender process and exclusively
dealing with Epworth. There’s been no answer about why Epworth from the Government at all. “They continue to claim confidentiality because of negotiations but this is taxpayer money and there was a secret process to exclusively hand over not just $50 million to Epworth but ongoing funding for public beds as well. Continued page 5
CATS SIZING UP HAWKS SPORT P30
FORD OWNERS
T J B
1130865-DJ16-14
For servicing and repairs with manufacturer’s warranty not affected see Geelong’s Ford Specialist.
“The dealer alternative”
M: 0417
585 221 •sales •auctions •leasing
368LaTrobeTerrace Geelong
5244 3337 8 Maxwell Ave, Belmont 1064920-KG9-13
Jason Barnett AREI
1059479-JL4-13
Results are just the beginning.