The planned compulsory acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital Bruce faces its most significant hurdle with the Supreme Court today to consider a push for an injunction. Source: Canberra Times.
But a decision may not be reached today. The full bench of the court will hear the application and will need to confer with each other before making a decision.
The controversial acquisition was again a subject of strong debate in the ACT’s Legislative Assembly yesterday.
A peak business body has also aired concerns about the takeover, saying it could pose a “sovereign risk” for business in the territory.
Canberra Business Chamber chairman Archie Tsirimokos said the early termination of legally binding contracts could undermine business and investor confidence in the territory.
This came as the opposition probed ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on contracts with PricewaterhouseCoopers during the Assembly’s question time.
The firm, which has come under fire for a federal tax breach, has been consulting the ACT Government on the Government’s proposed northside hospital and the acquisition.
Ms Stephen-Smith was asked by opposition health spokeswoman Leanne Castley about whether PwC had notified the Government about any conflict of interest in relation to the acquisition.
The Health Minister said PwC undertook Calvary’s financial audits. Ms Stephen-Smith last month said Calvary national chief executive Martin Bowles had raised concerns two PwC members who were part of the Calvary transition had previously undertaken work for Calvary.
PwC advised there was no conflict but the advisers were removed from the project.
FULL STORY
Calvary acquisition to face significant hurdle as Supreme Court hears arguments for injunction (By Lucy Bladen, Canberra Times)
