NORTH COAST NATS LAUNCH PETITION WEBSITE AND HOLD RALLIES ON 400 HEALTH JOB CUTS

29 November 2008

Leader of The Nationals and Member for Oxley Andrew Stoner today launched an online petition on the 400 job cuts to the North Coast Area Health Service proposed by the State Labor Government.

North Coast Nationals MPs will hold a series of rallies this weekend to coincide with the start of the petition, which can be found online at http://www.savenorthcoasthospitals.com.au

A message will also be read at each rally from Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Leader of The Nationals Andrew Stoner.

“Our message to the State Labor Government is that the North Coast will not take these health cuts lying down,” Mr Stoner said.

“We are launching this action today because we will fight against any cuts to our health services, but we need the help of everyone in the community.

“I would strongly urge everyone to sign the petition at http://www.savenorthcoasthospitals.com.au

“The Nationals and Liberals have had a gutful of State Labor’s neglect on the North Coast and it is only going to get worse now that Nathan Rees has handed down his killer mini-budget.

“Along with the $330 million in cuts to the Pacific Highway budget, ripping the guts out of the North Coast Area Health Service will literally cost people their lives.

“Nathan Rees and Health Minister John Della Bosca will have blood on their hands if they don’t backflip on this outrageous decision. 

“Already the North Coast Area Health Service is under-funded by almost $60 million under the State Government’s own resource distribution formula.

“The last thing the State Government should be looking to do is to take more nurses and other vital staff out of our hospitals.

“The Nationals and Liberals will fight long and hard for the community in the face of Labor’s outrageous health cuts,” Mr Stoner said.