PM's initiative should extend to bush nursing hospitals
The Prime Minister today announced plans to take over a hospital slated for closure in Devonport, at a cost to taxpayers of $45 million per year.
He has justified this decision, rejecting claims that he was pork barreling a marginal seat and instead claiming he was saving a vital community service.
He also said that, if the trial worked out well, the Federal Government would extend it to other parts of the country.
The Labor candidate for Indi, Zuvele Leschen, today asked that the local member lobby the Federal government to extend this program to cover bush nursing hospitals.
“Mr Howard has said that his plan to take over the hospital in Devonport has nothing to do with it being in a marginal seat, but instead recognizes a public need.”
“We have a number of former Bush Nursing Hospitals in Indi which face constant financial pressures due to their status as private hospitals in small communities.”
“At this very moment, the former Bush Nursing Hospital at Chiltern is facing closure.”
“Similar services at Walwa, Euroa and Yackandandah face ongoing financial difficulties.”
“Mr Howard has said that he has intervened in Devonport to save a vital community service. Euroa Health service is the only hospital in the Strathbogie Shire, so it meets this criteria; I am sure the communities serviced by the other hospitals would see them as vital community services as well.”
“As Mr Howard has made it clear that this has nothing to do with the marginality of the seat in question, there is no reason that he should not do so in these cases.”
“I ask the member of Indi to lobby her Government so that these vital community services receive proper ongoing funding.”
He has justified this decision, rejecting claims that he was pork barreling a marginal seat and instead claiming he was saving a vital community service.
He also said that, if the trial worked out well, the Federal Government would extend it to other parts of the country.
The Labor candidate for Indi, Zuvele Leschen, today asked that the local member lobby the Federal government to extend this program to cover bush nursing hospitals.
“Mr Howard has said that his plan to take over the hospital in Devonport has nothing to do with it being in a marginal seat, but instead recognizes a public need.”
“We have a number of former Bush Nursing Hospitals in Indi which face constant financial pressures due to their status as private hospitals in small communities.”
“At this very moment, the former Bush Nursing Hospital at Chiltern is facing closure.”
“Similar services at Walwa, Euroa and Yackandandah face ongoing financial difficulties.”
“Mr Howard has said that he has intervened in Devonport to save a vital community service. Euroa Health service is the only hospital in the Strathbogie Shire, so it meets this criteria; I am sure the communities serviced by the other hospitals would see them as vital community services as well.”
“As Mr Howard has made it clear that this has nothing to do with the marginality of the seat in question, there is no reason that he should not do so in these cases.”
“I ask the member of Indi to lobby her Government so that these vital community services receive proper ongoing funding.”
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posted by Greg Naylor at
10:03 PM
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