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MEDIA RELEASES TAMWORTH "SUCKS REGION DRY" ON HEALTH - PETER BAILEY Independent candidate for the seat of Tamworth in the March 22nd State election Peter Draper, has today called on National Party member for Tamworth John Cull and candidate for Northern Tablelands Peter Bailey to clarify their party's position on health funding for Tamworth. The Liberal/National State Coalition has recently put forward a proposal to abolish all existing health service boards and replace them with local and district hospital boards. Since the release of the proposal, National Party candidate for Northern Tablelands Peter Bailey has been active in regional press articles supporting the plan, and he has attempted to justify the concept by criticising the funding allocation to Tamworth. Mr Bailey has been quoted as saying: "Increasingly we see Tamworth become like a giant magnet, sucking the regions dry." Mr Draper would like Mr Cull and Mr Bailey to provide the figures that have lead to the National Party's conclusion that Tamworth is being over funded to the detriment of other areas. Furthermore, Mr Bailey has criticised the management of New England Area Health Service when he referred to locating the proposed new Boards in Armidale and Tenterfield. While outlining the benefits of a board being located in Tenterfield, Mr Bailey was again quoted as saying: "Its about taking the decisions away from bureaucrats in air conditioned offices of far-off Health Service headquarters, and giving that power back to the community." Mr Draper has called on John Cull to reveal whether he supports the views expressed by Mr Bailey, and also to advise whether National Party policy on this issue is to reduce funding for Tamworth. "The Coalition seems to be trying to turn the clock back on this issue, and it appears that National Party candidate Peter Bailey wants to see Tamworth's health funding reduced," commented Mr Draper. "Given Mr Bailey's recent contradictory statements on Native Vegetation policy, the National Party's health policy in Northern Tablelands also seems to be very contentious. People in the electorate of Tamworth deserve to have clarification over this critical issue." "The proposal does not offer constructive solutions, and to have Mr Bailey attempting to create a division between Tamworth and the New England area is totally counterproductive. I would like Mr Cull to explain both his position, and that of the National Party on Mr Bailey's comments," concluded Mr Draper. End Release |