Hospital staff to pay thousands each year for parking

The privatization of visitor and staff access to the state’s public hospitals is forcing nurses, staff and hospital visitors to pay exorbitant parking fees. Queensland Nurses Union secretary Beth Mohle “said nurses were hot under the collar but the lease, signed under the former Newman LNP government, was watertight. “Our members campaigned against the cost last year,” she said. Ms. Mohle said the cost of safe parking was an issue across the state and a barrier to people accessing care or being able to visit sick loved ones. “It’s a consistent problem,” she said. “The QNU wants safe, secure parking but not profit gouging. These companies have to make a profit for their shareholders and that’s their focus. We want a different model.””