The Liberal Government is determined to rescue the Royal.
Today I can announce the Royal Redevelopment Rescue Taskforce will be led by the highly respected John Ramsay.
Mr Ramsay is a former Secretary for the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services and current Director and Principal of John Ramsay and Associates Pty Ltd, which provides consulting services in health and human services.
He will chair the Rescue Taskforce which will immediately start work on saving this major project – left in such a mess by the former Labor-Green Government.
Mr Ramsay will be joined on the Taskforce by Ms Jo Thorley who has significant experience in hospital redevelopment, project management, and health services and asset planning; and Dr Daniel Norton whose expertise includes financial management reform, health services, public sector management and commercial negotiations.
They will be supported by a secretariat led by Mathew Healey and a reference group comprising a representative from the AMA, Neroli Ellis from the Australian Nursing Federation, Michael Kerschbaum from the Master Builders Association and Federal Member for Denison Andrew Wilkie.
We want to ensure Tasmanians get a redeveloped Royal Hobart Hospital, and the Rescue Taskforce has the right mix of experience and skills to provide advice on the best way to overcome the serious issues the project currently faces.
The Taskforce will make recommendations on the: capital and operational risk profile of the project and RHH; construction methodology; decanting requirements; governance and management; Guaranteed Construction Sum presented by the Managing Contractor; and other related matters.
This is needed as a result of the former Labor-Green Government’s mismanagement of this project which resulted in significant delays, management issues, patient risk and potentially significant budget blowouts.
The immediate priority for the Taskforce is to review all existing governance arrangements and project documentation.
The Liberal Government is committed to transparency on the Royal Rescue and we will provide regular progress updates to Tasmanians.
About the Taskforce
Taskforce Chair, Mr Ramsay, has significant experience in health and human service delivery in Tasmania. He is the Director and Principal of John Ramsay and Associates Pty Ltd which provides consulting services in health and human services and a former Secretary for the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. He has been a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania and High Court of Australia since 1976 and is the Chairperson of the Board of the Environmental Protection Authority of Tasmania and Member of the Tasmanian Planning Commission and Board of the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania.
Ms Jo Thorley, Taskforce Member, brings significant experience in hospital redevelopment, project management, and health services and asset planning, supported by dual qualifications in nursing and architecture. She has provided project direction to the $950 million Royal North Shore Hospital and Community Health Services Redevelopment, St Leonards NSW and the $440 million Central Sydney Area Health Service Resource Transition Program Redevelopment. She is currently Director Aurora Projects.
Dr Daniel Norton, Taskforce Member, has worked in major infrastructure industries, central government and international commodity marketing. His extensive experience includes financial management reform, health services, public sector management and commercial negotiations. He was Chairman, Menzies Research Institute Tasmania during its redevelopment. Dr Norton is Chairman of the Tasmanian Ports Corporation and the Tasmanian Network Transition Board and Deputy Chairman Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Corporation. He is also an Associate of Dandolo Partners.
