3 October 2000
Mr A Hinton
Foreign Investment and Review Board (FIRB)
The Treasury Building
Parkes Place
PARKES
ACT 2600
Dear Mr Hinton,
re Andrew Turner and Ballantrae Healthcare & Rehabilitation
I have previously advised you of Andrew Turner's likely move to join Ballantrae Healthcare and of the US belief that he would buy Sun's international operations.
This is to advise you that Sun has now joined Ballantrae.
Large numbers of Sun staff have also moved to Ballantrae. Ballantrae is moving its headquarters to Albuquerque, which is Sun's home town and where Turner lives. It is clear that Turner will in effect be running Ballantrae.
This confirms the accuracy of the information about Turner's plans, which I sent you many months ago, although Turner selected Ballantrae rather than Intrepid Healthcare. It is likely therefore that he will now purchase Sun's international operations including Australia if the countries in which they operate will accept this.
I sincerely trust that FIRB will fulfil its responsibilities to Australian citizens by making it very clear that Ballantrae is not welcome here. Note the poor performance of its facilities. You are aware of Turner's track record in financial mismanagement and in deliberately compromising care by understaffing and underskilling.
I do not have much information about Ballantrae, but the information I have been sent suggests that its performance and attention to the welfare of its patients is comparable with Sun Healthcare. I attach the information I was sent about the performance of some of its facilities.
You are I am sure aware that a number of the Australian hospitals which Sun bought in 1997 are now bankrupt. Its UK operations are not prospering.
Yours sincerely,
