Health department axed after chief embezzles €12.3m

THE premier of Australia’s Queensland state has abolished its troubled health department after one of its top executives allegedly embezzled Aus$16 million (€12.3m).

Anna Bligh said she would split Queensland Health into separate hospital and administrative arms after finance manager Hohepa Morehu-Barlow was accused of defrauding the huge department of millions to support a lavish lifestyle. She described it as the “final chapter in the life of the ailing agency“, which underwent a major overhaul in 2005 after a number of patients died or were maimed in botched surgeries performed by Indian doctor Jayant Patel.

Patel, 60, is serving seven years in prison for criminal negligence.