Premier grilled over Maclean Hospital cuts

24 June 2009

NSW Labor Premier Nathan Rees failed to explain his Government’s Maclean Hospital funding and staffing cuts during Question Time in the New South Wales Parliament on Wednesday.

Clarence Nationals MP Steve Cansdell asked the Premier: “Can you explain to the people of Maclean how you have found millions to build your City Metro Plaza, yet you can’t find $400,000 for an upgrade to the emergency unit at Maclean Hospital, putting local people’s health at risk and costing the local community jobs?”

The City Metro Plaza is a lavish new green space announced by the Premier on Tuesday as part of the NSW Government’s $581 million 2009/10 spend on the unwanted Sydney metro system.

“In response the Premier read from a document heavy on spin but light on information relating to my question,” Mr Cansdell said.
“I then asked him about his Government axing five jobs at Maclean Hospital.”

“Once again the Premier was unable to provide an intelligible answer.”

Mr Cansdell said the Government’s ignorance of Clarence health problems reinforced the need for a big turnout at the Maclean Hospital Protest Rally at 1 PM this Saturday.

“Bring your family, your friends, your pets and your placards, because people power is the only language the Rees Government understands,” he concluded.