Federal and State Leaders Provide Encouraging Health Services Messages
Published on 31 August 2022
“There is no reason why quality of life in the Bush can’t be as good as anywhere else in NSW”; “We need to build services around people, not government”; “A woman should be able to deliver her baby at the local hospital”; “Government needs to act fast and fix it”. (NSW Premier)
“Every community deserves basic health care at a local level”; “There has been a decade of investment in bricks and mortar in NSW. We now need to focus on services.”; There is no ‘One Size Fits All’ solution - there are different needs for different towns. We need tailored services for each community.” (NSW Deputy Premier)
“We are best placed when we plan, rather than react, and we are stronger when we work together”. (Prime Minister)
These are just some of the comments delivered by our national and state leaders - Prime Minister The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, NSW Premier The Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP, and NSW Deputy Premier The Hon. Paul Toole MP, at the 2022 Bush Summit held last Friday in Griffith NSW.
The 2022 Daily Telegraph Bush Summit hosted a range of guest speakers and panellists to discuss the state of NSW regional areas and how best to address the challenges faced and opportunities presented, including health challenges and opportunities.
Leeton Shire Council’s Mayor Tony Reneker, Deputy Mayor Michael Kidd, General Manager Jackie Kruger and Leeton Health Services Crisis Committee (LHSCC) Member Paul Maytom attended the summit and were generally pleased to hear these health-related comments coming from the various leaders.
“In relation to ensuring Leeton receives the health services we deserve, our Committee is working towards identifying tailored solutions that meet the needs of the Leeton Shire Community. Hearing similar sentiments from the Prime Minister, NSW Premier and NSW Deputy Premier endorsing that we all deserve equitable health services and that no one size solution fits all, gives us great encouragement that we are on the right track,” said Mayor Tony Reneker.
Addressing the critical workers shortage, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have vowed that fast-tracking immigration visas will be a priority for every level of government. Both leaders also flagged incentives to attract more international health workers to Australian jobs with Mr Perrottet saying he will lobby for the issue at the upcoming Jobs Summit to be held in Canberra.
“Closing our health workforce gaps is critical and while we want to ‘grow our own’ that is a medium to long term solution. Expediting the arrival of migrant doctors and nurses needs priority attention and it is pleasing that government is recognising this,” said Mayor Reneker.
With these encouraging words and the 2023 NSW state election just around the corner, Leeton Shire Council and the LHSCC believe the time is right to be advocating strongly for a full complement of appropriate health services from our hospital, ambulance, mental health and aged care services.
The LSC and LHSCC Health Committee is now working on the final stage of key stakeholder engagement which will be followed by the development of an Integrated Health Services Strategy Plan. The Plan will be used as a basis to lobby State and Federal governments on improved health services for Leeton Shire residents