FEDERAL Member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons has accused Bendigo Health chairman Dr Michael Langdon of being deceitful and not fit to hold his job, following Dr Langdon’s comments in yesterday’s Bendigo Advertiser.
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Dr Langdon yesterday said politicians were “playing the blame game” over recent hospital funding cuts and that the federal government was responsible.
Mr Gibbons has responded by launching a scathing attack on State Health Minister David Davis and Bendigo Health Board chair Dr Michael Langdon.
He said all Dr Langdon was interested in was “listening to ‘his master’s voice’ and continuing the most deceitful campaign that I have witnessed in more than 30 years’ involvement in community and public affairs in Bendigo”.
“Dr Langdon has deliberately politicised the role of health board chair by acting in the interests of his political masters rather than this community,” Mr Gibbons said.
“Dr Langdon is not a fit or proper person to be in the health board chair’s position and should resign immediately and allow someone else to take over the role whose priority is to serve the community.”
Dr Langdon was the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Bendigo East in the 2010 state election.
Dr Langdon hit back, saying he was disappointed by the comments and that Mr Gibbons had lost touch with the community.
“It is disappointing that our federal member has resorted to personal attacks rather than spending his energy standing up for his local constituents and calling on the federal government to rescind its decision to cut $2.9m from Bendigo Health’s budget,” he said.
“As the chair of the Bendigo Health Board, my priorities are our staff and patients. Perhaps Mr Gibbons needs reminding about what his priorities should be – his constituents. The recently announced federal funding cuts are indefensible and I am amazed that Mr Gibbons is more interested in scoring cheap political points than standing up for the people of Bendigo,” Dr Langdon said.
“It is truly disappointing that he has decided to support the funding cuts and shift the blame and responsibility from the federal government through personal attacks, attempting to smear and blame others.”