SW News:

In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Church-run Calvary Health Care asked the Supreme Court last week to overturn the legislation that enabled the forceful takeover of its health facility by the government. It requested an injunction to prevent the government from using the Takeover Act, but the court denied the request and ruled in favor of the authorities. 

The Supreme Court decided unanimously against Calvary, letting ACT government employees back into the premises of the facility after a temporary restraining order had prevented them from doing so. The court has yet to decide on several of Calvary's assertions that the procurement regulations are illegal. Despite the ongoing legal debate over these limits, it seems that the management transition will go forward as scheduled. 

Calvary released a statement in which it "acknowledged" the court's decision and requested "time to consider the judgment." Meanwhile, Calvary's lawyer, David Williams, said during the trial that an appeal was feasible but that it was too early to comment on its merits. 

On the other side, Andrew Barr, the Chief Minister of ACT, has revealed that plans to expand and renovate Calvary Hospital in northern Canberra may be started shortly. He went on to add that the proposed consolidation of public hospitals into a single network will benefit all Canberrans by improving healthcare coordination, resource distribution, staff capacity, territory-wide infrastructure development, and other things. 

The minister for health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, confirmed the chief minister's thoughts, adding that they would make every effort to offer data to workers, patients, and caregivers during the transition. 

Senator Michaelia Cash of the Federal Liberal Party has branded the forcible takeover of the hospital a "sordid event" and has asked for a Senate probe. The senator went on to say that inhabitants of the ACT "deserve to know the truth about what has happened here, and how it will affect them." 

Meanwhile, in a video message, Fr. Tony Percy, who is spearheading the Catholic drive to save the hospital, advised supporters to "accept the decision" and instead write letters of protest to members of parliament. The ACT government will take over the running of the facility on July 3.