Rob Stable

Interviewed by
Peter Spearritt
Jan 17 2012
Rob Stable

Public servant Rob Stable was Director General of Health 1996-2004 in the Queensland public service following a career as a doctor and hospital manager. He worked with health ministers Peter Beattie, Rob Borbidge, Mike Horan and Wendy Edmond.

Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:14

Rob Stable outlines his early childhood, education and his family background that led him into the medical profession.
00:03:10

Rob Stable describes his experiences studying medicine at the University of Queensland in the 1970s. He details his move from university to working at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

 hospitals
00:07:34

Rob Stable discusses his early years as a doctor working at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Charleville, Port Augusta, Kingaroy and Nambour.

 hospitals
00:10:04

Rob Stable discusses his early exposure to medical administration. He discusses his experience working as superintendent of emergency at Nambour hospital.

 hospitals
00:15:25

Rob Stable discusses the senior public service appointments to health in the 1980s and how this changed through the 1990s with more medical practitioners receiving these roles. He discusses the appointments prior to him becoming director general.

 Goss Government 1989-96, health, Health Department
00:19:08

Rob Stable discusses his appointment as director general and the political context of the time with the Mundingburra by-election.

 Borbidge Government 1996-98, Goss Government 1989-96, Mike Horan, Mundingburra by-election 1996, Peter Beattie
00:22:11

Rob Stable discusses his relationship with Peter Beattie in the health portfolio. He discusses his own approach to leadership and management.

 Health Department, leadership, Peter Beattie, relationship with ministers
00:27:01

Rob Stable discusses the history of health reform and medical training in Australia. He details the challenges of complexity to health with the growing number of special fields in health and increased technology.

 health, medical training
00:31:00

Rob Stable discusses the role of nurses.

 health, nursing
00:32:46

Rob Stable discusses his experiences with various unions in his time as director general.

 directors general, Health Department, unions
00:36:42

Rob Stable details his approach to senior staff appointments and his relationship with his staff. He notes his relationship with other directors general.

 directors general, Gerard Bradley
00:41:57

Rob Stable discusses the planning that went into health and how this translated into dispersing funds across Queensland. He details the challenges of funding Indigenous health in remote areas. He details the capital works programs in the Goss and Borbidge governments to rebuild hospitals.

 Borbidge Government 1996-98, Goss Government 1989-96, Health Department, hospitals, Indigenous issues, Mike Horan
00:47:29

Rob Stable discusses the political challenges of moving hospitals. He notes the importance of providing appropriate services to each location. He discusses private hospitals and public-private hospital co-location. He describes the Robina hospital in its public and private capacities.

 hospitals
00:53:32

Rob Stable reflects upon the history of public health care in Australia and the Queensland commitment to free hospitals. He discusses Queensland's approach to dental programs.

 Borbidge Government 1996-98, health, hospitals
00:57:15

Rob Stable discusses the rapid technological changes in the health system.

 health, technology
00:59:15

Rob Stable describes his achievments while he was director general, including having cohesion in the department and maintaining the health of Queenslanders across the state.

 health, Health Department
01:00:52

Rob Stable describes medical staffing issues as one of his primary regrets while director general. He notes his regret at not getting the health budget higher.

 budget process, Health Department
01:04:47

Rob Stable discusses the complexities within health budgets.

 budget process, Health Department
01:08:41

Interview ends
Position:
Public Servant
Bailiwick:
Health
Decade:
1990s, 2000s
Sound byte: 

Rob Stable

Biography

Rob Stable

Public servant Rob Stable was Director General of Health 1996-2004 in the Queensland public service following a career as a doctor and hospital manager.

Born on 2 July 1953 in Brisbane, Rob Stable attended the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane. He studied medicine at the University of Queensland and later completed a management degree at The University of New South Wales. He spent some time during his career in rural health, including practicing medicine with the Royal Flying Doctors Service. After working as a doctor in his own practice, he took on management roles at various hospitals.

In 1994 he was appointed as the Queensland General Manager of Health Care of Australia. He left the private sector to become Director General of the Queensland Health Department in 1996. During his time as Queensland Director General of Health he worked with several health ministers, including Peter Beattie, Rob Borbidge, Mike Horan and Wendy Edmond. Rob Stable was a recipient of a Centenary medal in 2004 and was the Vice-Chancellor and President of Bond University from 2004-11.

Copyright © The Centre for the Government of Queensland, the University of Queensland, 2012.

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Associated interviews: 
Mike Horan
Associated interviews: 
Peter Beattie
Associated interviews: 
Rob Borbidge