Reeves Scandal Escalates - Report

Reeves Scandal Escalates With Iemma Government Refusing to Release Report Findings

26 May 2007:

The Member for Bega Andrew Constance has labelled as scandalous the refusal by the Iemma Government to release the findings of an investigation into the Dr Reeves appointment by former Federal Court Judge Deirdre O’Connor.

Andrew Constance Member for Bega

“Health Minister Reba Meagher has a duty to release the findings of the O’Connor investigation to victims, their families, the medical profession and the wider community,” Mr Constance said.

“Victims have been through enough without having endure more cover up on the part of the Iemma Government into this affair.

“They are entitled to see the findings of this investigation into the appointment of disgraced doctor Graeme Reeves and the handling of his case by the NSW Medical Board and the Health Care Complaints Commission,” Mr Constance said.“Ms Meagher has refused to table the report in Parliament and has referred it to the inquiry into NSW public hospitals, ensuring the document is hidden from the public,” Mr Constance said.

“This is scandalous. There is no public accountability on the part of the Health Minister who has already been caught misleading the Parliament on Reeve’s background checks.

The Minister has stated previously that background checks weren’t undertaken by the Government when Reeves was hired. This was subsequently proven to be misleading when it was revealed that area health service bureaucrats had in fact undertaken a criminal record check and telephoned one of Reeves referees.

“Those women who have suffered are entitled to better treatment than what they are receiving by the State’s Health Minister.

“The cover up, lies and incompetence on the part of the Iemma Government is hardly surprising, however you would think basic human decency on their part would ensure this matter is cleared up as quickly as possible for victims and their families.

“There has been no statement from the Minister to confirm the current employment status of those bureaucrats involved in the appointment of Reeves. The silence is deafening from the Minister on this point,” Mr Constance said.