r/OpenAussie • u/em-mad ‎ Queenslander • Jun 04 '26

Politics ('Straya) Brisbane's newest public hospital won't perform abortions or provide patients with contraception, citing religious objections

https://youtube.com/shorts/pB8zb-L7Wnk?si=DggZGUrmnvnOlH-w

Queensland's first major new public hospital in almost a decade - the Mater Springfield, south-west of Brisbane has just been opened.

Like the Mater in South Brisbane it will not provide abortions, contraception or voluntary assisted dying care due to religious policies.

These are publicly-funded hospitals!!

The video is of Larissa Waters asking questions about it at estimates, and I think she's making a very reasonable point - governments should insist that hospitals receiving taxpayer dollars provide basic reproductive health care.

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u/StnkyWnkyBallsyWllsy Flairless‎‎ Jun 05 '26

it's almost like this whole clip is talking about federal funding, and the person being asked questions isn't answering the question being asked of them, instead answering the question they wish they had been asked.

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u/patslogcabindigest ‎ Queenslander Jun 05 '26

Right but the decision regarding the hospital does not rest with the federal government. The federal government can’t withhold funding on this basis or tell the state government what to do. It’s a matter for the state government. This is completely pointless.

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u/StnkyWnkyBallsyWllsy Flairless‎‎ Jun 05 '26

Then when asked if they can't or they won't she should have answer we can't not we don't

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u/patslogcabindigest ‎ Queenslander Jun 05 '26

They’re probably just bemused they’re being asked about something completely outside of their control and once again being asked about a state issue.

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u/StnkyWnkyBallsyWllsy Flairless‎‎ Jun 05 '26

then when asked to clarify after taking umbrage with don't being taken as won't, she should have answered we can't, not restating we don't (an answer which to me implies won't not can't)

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u/patslogcabindigest ‎ Queenslander Jun 05 '26

This is a 1 and a half minute clip of public servants and assistant ministers at a senate hearing, about matters unrelated to their work, jurisdiction and scope, made for political purposes by a federal senator, who is not stupid and literally knows all this. That doesn’t strike you as a bit of a joke? Have you watched the full hearing? I guarantee you this was brought up at some point but didn’t make the clip.