Saffin and Gulaptis on the effects of O'Farrell health cuts in their electorates

While NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Chris I refuse to have a personal website Gulaptis rarely tells his electorate anything, unless pushed to it by local media; Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin makes her views clear at www.janellesaffin.com.au and in accessible media releases such as this on 14 September 2012:

Liberals cut deep into public hospitals while Nationals watch on

PAGE MP Janelle Saffin has warned that doctors and nurses in public hospitals on the Northern Rivers will be axed under the O’Farrell-Stoner Government’s savage cuts, leaving local families waiting longer in emergency departments and for elective surgery.

 
Ms Saffin today condemned NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner for confirming that the Liberal-National Coalition Government will slash funding for health across the State by $3 billion.
 
“That means over 3600 jobs will be lost -- the equivalent of on average more than 16 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals sacked from hospitals like Lismore Base and Grafton Base,” she said.

“I have delivered major Federal funding to redevelop these hospitals, and continue to fight to protect and build on infrastructure and the health workforce for Ballina, Casino, Coraki, Bonalbo and Urbenville hospitals.

“Regardless of what Jillian Skinner says, the NSW Coalition’s attack on health services, which come on the back of cuts to our local schools, will lead to a collapse in health service delivery at the frontline.

 
“The real impact of these cuts is longer queues in emergency departments, hospital ward and bed closures and longer waiting times for surgery.”

Ms Saffin said that when Coalition Premiers pick up an axe – services are the first to face the chop.
 
“Cutting services is what Coalition parties do,” she said.
 
“While Federal Labor is investing record amounts in our local hospitals – the NSW Liberals are ripping it away and the NSW Nationals are there watching on.
 
“This is a preview of what would happen if Tony Abbott ever got into power federally.
 
“After all, we know he slashed $1 billion from public hospitals when he was Health Minister.”

Chris Gulaptis is reported in The Daily Examiner as saying that:

"MPs are panicking too,"….He said local health boards will be responsible for determining where savings are made and while he wouldn't be involved with that, he would "like to be kept abreast of what they propose".

He is yet to get to his feet in the NSW Legislative Assembly and speak against these cuts – preferring instead to buck pass to the Northern NSW Local Health District Board. Forgetting of course that well-known Nationals and Liberal Party members sit on this very board.