Speaking at a press conference today, ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said the union was “very concerned about privatisation’’.
“The privatisation of aged care has been an unmitigated disaster, with the principle of care completely undermined by the principle of profit,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“We’ve also seen the experience with Modbury Hospital (privatised from 1995 to 2007), what a painful experience that was, with the Government and therefore the public being asked to provide numerous bailouts in the vicinity of millions of dollars a year.
“That amount was never fully disclosed but ultimately it showed it was a failed experiment. That the Modbury Hospital did come back under the public banner was because people could see for themselves that it was a failed experiment and it really did cost the community twice.
“The history of privatisation in Australia has shown that the public ends up paying more for less, because to make profits companies always go for the cheaper option; cutting staff, cutting quality of staff, scaling back services, charging more, crying poor and begging for government bailouts when things inevitably go pear-shaped,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“It is a disgrace that our essential services end up being operated by companies, often foreign, whose primary motive is making money.
“It is doing a huge disservice to the community which relies on the efficient, affordable delivery of these essential services, particularly in times of crisis such as a pandemic or bushfire.
“We’re very concerned more recently about the issue of mental health services in South Australia being privatised. We do believe the publicly funded Central Adelaide Local Health Network provided a very positive submission which was ultimately rejected.
“We can’t understand why because we believe it would have brought about a better result, a more integrated result and really it is a significant loss for the community for that to have occurred.’’
SA Unions Secretary Angas Story said selling off the services South Australians built “sends our money to overseas investors instead of keeping it here to support our communities and means that our vital services are run for profit in times of emergency. We can’t afford this sort of market madness as we head deeper into a recession.
“We call on all political parties to commit to principles of keeping public services in public hands and save South Australia from being sold off for short-term gain and long-term pain.’’
The ANMF (SA Branch) encourages members to write to or ring their local MP to protest privatisation.