Deniliquin GP Breaks Silence on Controversial Council Decision to Terminate Clinic Lease
Dr. Albert Liebenberg, a dedicated medical practitioner in Deniliquin since 2001, has publicly criticized the Edward River Council (ERC) for its decision to terminate the Ochre Health lease at the Deniliquin Medical Centre. Speaking out for the first time, Dr. Liebenberg expressed deep concern over the lack of transparency, due diligence, and formal consultation surrounding the move. Despite serving the community for over two decades, the doctor revealed that he was never consulted by the Council before, during, or after the decision was finalized. His attempts to engage with local leadership were reportedly met with dismissive responses, heightening frustrations regarding the governance of such a critical community asset.
The Council’s decision to terminate the lease over a year before its expiration has left many asking why such a rush was necessary without a replacement provider secured. Dr. Liebenberg highlighted that the process took place “in-camera,” effectively shielding the rationale from public scrutiny. He emphasized that the Council appears to have fundamentally misunderstood the nature of healthcare delivery, seemingly acting under the assumption that medical staff could be treated like “goods and chattels” who would automatically transition to a new provider. This top-down approach has caused significant instability for the clinical team and raises alarming questions about the long-term impact on local patient care.
In defense of his practice, Dr. Liebenberg addressed public misinformation regarding clinical operations. Responding to claims that the clinic prioritizes profit and restricts patient appointments to 15-minute windows, he clarified that doctors operate as independent contractors with full autonomy over their schedules. Furthermore, he noted that approximately 85% of their patients are bulk-billed, a statistic that flatly contradicts accusations that the practice is driven primarily by financial greed. He underscored that 15-minute intervals are merely a standard administrative guide, and clinicians regularly extend appointments to meet the specific health needs of their patients.
Dr. Liebenberg also took issue with the statistics cited by the Council to justify their “rash” decision. Challenging the ERC’s public statements, he provided factual corrections, noting that the clinic had actually increased its staffing levels recently and maintained robust service delivery, including access to urgent same-day appointments throughout the period in question. He argued that the Council’s reliance on selective data and misinformation appears to be a defensive maneuver to mask a lack of transparency and an absence of genuine due diligence before upending the town’s primary healthcare service.
Beyond the administrative dispute, the doctor expressed worry for the future of rural medicine in the region. He emphasized that rural practices across Australia face inherent recruitment challenges, and the Council’s antagonistic approach toward existing healthcare providers could serve as a deterrent to future medical professionals. By choosing to publicly denounce the current clinic staff rather than collaborating to solve service gaps, the Council risks becoming a cautionary tale for other local governments regarding poor inter-agency management and a failure to protect community interests.
Ultimately, Dr. Liebenberg’s statement serves as a plea for immediate accountability. He and his colleagues are calling on the Council to answer critical questions regarding the governance process and to clarify why the decision was pushed forward without independent verification of the potential risks to the community. As the situation develops, the local doctors maintain that their priority remains the welfare of their 4,000 patients, even as they continue to face what they describe as a delusionally managed process from the Council that threatens the continuity of local, reliable healthcare.