A public hearing will shed light on the controversial acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital by the ACT government.

A public hearing has been scheduled to evaluate the ACT government's contentious takeover of Calvary Public Hospital.

Senator Matt Canavan, from the LNP, initiated a private member's bill in June, aiming to prompt an inquiry into the acquisition by the ACT government. The Senate committee has since received the bill for examination.

An extension has now been granted to Senator Canavan until early September to collect further evidence for the Senate committee's investigation.

Notably, public hearings will be conducted as part of the inquiry process, despite the Greens opposing this motion.

The ACT government completed the acquisition of Calvary Public Hospital in July and plans to construct a new $1 billion hospital on the premises.

The acquisition, which faced resistance from Calvary Health Care, was a subject of legal contention where Calvary argued that it was not adequately compensated and questioned the legality of the acquisition.

Earlier, a similar bill pushing for an inquiry was referred to the federal Senate committee by Senator Canavan in a collaborative move with the Greens. 

This move was criticised by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, who accused federal politicians of meddling in territorial matters.

The recent Senate motion, however, did not receive support from the Greens. Independent Senator David Pocock, while opposing Senator Canavan's bill, voiced support for the extended inquiry and the inclusion of public hearings. 

There are concerns that the federal involvement could infringe on the rights of the territory. 

Former Australian Public Service Commissioner Andrew Podger AO expressed discomfort with the Commonwealth's engagement in this manner. He highlighted the lack of proper consultation during the acquisition process and questioned the decision's validity.

The acquisition's aftermath saw Calvary Health Care challenge the legislation in court, asserting unfair conduct by the Territory. 

The ACT Supreme Court validated the legislation's legitimacy, but Calvary continued to voice concerns about the precedent set by such actions.

The current inquiry, led by Senator Canavan, aims to explore the acquisition's legitimacy and the decision-making process.