Yet for all the flurry of Thursday’s announcements, the community is no clearer on a time frame. There is still no iron-clad guarantee the shift won’t happen before Goulburn Base Hospital’s redevelopment is complete. More than anything, it has been about minimising political fallout.

Unions and the community were geared up for a major rally on Sunday and their campaign showed no sign of slowing. As it happens, the protest is going ahead anyway.

That comes down to the uncertainty over two very different statements issued yesterday. They’re a lesson in bureaucratic language. The first, issued by the Southern NSW Health District did not specifically state that Bourke Street’s relocation would now wait until Goulburn Base Hospital’s redevelopment.

Instead, CEO Janet Compton (pictured) committed to “re-evaluating the service changes” and consulting staff and the community further about the hospital’s redevelopment.

She appeared at pains to point out the relocation was mooted in an earlier clinical services plan (which it was) and that people had a chance for input then. Furthermore it was in the interests of patients’ safety.

Ms Compton also cites the decision not to partially privatise the hospital as a chance to re-evaluate Bourke Street’s “service changes.” That’s a ruse and we all know it. The move would have gone ahead regardless. 

In short, Ms Compton, and possibly the board, have been rapped over the knuckles by the Minister’s office. Next time, it might be an idea to consult the board, the community and staff first about such a major change. Little doubt the government is watching the administration closely.

Yet Ms Goward was also opaque in her statement yesterday.

There was no specific time-frame for the relocation, only a quote that she and the community had a strong case for Health Minister Jillian Skinner that BSHS should stay put until the new hospital was redeveloped.  

Asked for clarification on the timeline, Ms Skinner’s office said this was an “operational matter” for the Health District.

We do not doubt that Ms Goward strongly stated the case to Ms Skinner. But one can’t blame the community for being skeptical and continuing their campaign.