Minns Government Announces 'Joe's Law' to End Private-Public Hospital Model As Inquiry into Safety and Quality of Services at Northern Beach Hospital Opens for Submissions
The Government stated the legislation will protect hospitals which provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services from any future government entering into such partnerships which limit public control over hospital services.
The Health Services Amendment (PPP Prohibition) Bill 2025 (NSW) will achieve this by preventing governments from entering into a Northern Beaches-style arrangement to build or operate an acute public hospital, the government stated.
'This law will honour the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa who tragically died in September last year.
The protection of the state’s acute hospitals will apply to any future government who seeks to pursue a privatisation agenda.' the Government said
Health Minister Ryan Park will introduce legislation in the NSW Legislative Assembly to amend the Health Services Act 1997 (NSW) to this effect.
This legislation forms part of the Government’s broader response to ongoing community concerns in relation to the quality and safety of health services delivered at Northern Beaches Hospital, including:
- A parliamentary inquiry into the hospital;
- A review of the systems and processes surrounding paediatric care at Northern Beaches Hospital, led by the Clinical Excellence Commission;
- A roundtable to improve the accessibility of the REACH protocol (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way);
- Requesting a coronial inquest; and
- A commitment to ensure Healthscope implements all recommendations of the Serious Adverse Event Review into Joe Massa’s death.
Premier Chris Minns said:
“Today we are announcing that under ‘Joe’s Law’, NSW will ban all future public private partnerships being imposed on the state’s acute hospitals.
“As a Labor government, we believe critical public services like acute hospitals should remain in public hands, safeguarded from privatisation.
“The NSW Government is committed to delivering the healthcare that the people of NSW rely on to keep our communities safe.”
NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said:
“Today, we are announcing a ban on public private partnerships being imposed on our state’s acute hospitals.
“From the very beginning, we’ve adamantly opposed these sorts of arrangements – and we will continue to oppose them, now and into the future.
“What we are doing today is to deliver further protection of our hospitals – honouring the memory and legacy of toddler Joe Massa.
“Joe’s Law will mean that public hospitals which provide services such as emergency, surgical and inpatient services, will be protected under this government and from any future government that wishes to enter into such partnerships with private providers.
“Our major and local community hospitals should be run by the people.”
The Legislation to be known as 'Joe's Law' is announced as submissions for the NSW Government Inquiry into the Safety and Quality of Health Services provided by the Northern Beaches Hospital open.
Submissions close May 20 2025.
The webpage to upload these is HERE.
The Terms of Reference were released late last week, along with the Committee Members, headed by MP for Strathfield, Jason Yat-Sen LI, MP, and including Wakehurst MP, Michael Regan.
See:
Terms of Reference for 2025 Inquiry Into the Safety and Quality of Health Services provided by Northern Beaches Hospital Released: Pittwater MP's Clarion Speech in NSW Parliament on Tuesday March 18
Parliamentary inquiry into Safety and Quality of Northern Beaches Hospital Services Announced
The inquiry was referred to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee by the Minister for Health, the Hon. Ryan Park MP, following recent high profile tragic infant deaths at the hospital.
The extensive terms of reference for the inquiry cover the financial, operational and clinical performance of the hospital, as well as the implementation of recommendations from a 2019 Parliamentary Inquiry which also examined the controversial hospital. The inquiry will also take into account the Auditor General’s performance audit of the hospital, which is expected to be released soon.
See: Northern Beaches Hospital Audit: now Open For Submissions - September 2024
Submissions to the inquiry will be followed by public hearings, a final committee report and a NSW Government response.
Mr Regan said, ‘The establishment of this parliamentary inquiry is a significant moment for our community on the Northern Beaches. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Now, more than ever, we need more scrutiny of the Northern Beaches Hospital. More scrutiny of the private operator Healthscope, more scrutiny of the contract with the NSW Government, more scrutiny of individual’s experiences and more scrutiny of structural problems they expose.’
‘This inquiry provides the profile and resources for the accountability our community is seeking. This inquiry will help keep the performance of the private-public Northern Beaches Hospital in the spotlight, where it belongs.’
‘I am pleased to see that the terms of reference for the inquiry is broad in scope. The entire operating lifetime of the hospital, since opening in 2018, is being examined and importantly it will also consider staffing issues at the hospital.’
Ms Scruby said, ‘Recent media stories of preventable infant deaths at the hospital have shocked us all. The families have shown great courage and conviction in speaking publicly about their experiences. In the wake of these deaths, community confidence in the hospital is deteriorating.
‘This Parliamentary inquiry is a crucial opportunity for everyone in our community, and all stakeholders, to come forward with their experiences and views.
‘Residents have every right to expect the same quality of services as other comparable public hospitals. This inquiry is an important step in ensuring this for our community.’
Mr Regan and Ms Scruby encourage all interested individuals and groups to make submissions to the inquiry through the parliamentary inquiry webpage.
The webpage to upload these is HERE.