Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

It could be 165! The only thing we have seen from the government to date, after nearly a year, is review after review after review after review, and not a single decision has been taken. People out in the community are starting to realise that all of those empty promises that were supposed to deliver for the regions have meant absolutely nothing. And it is people like Don and Nancy Morgan who are realising that the government is not delivering on its promises—none of them. To my mind, for a government to sit here in the knowledge that $30 a week would make such a difference to these people and refuse to deliver it is absolutely abhorrent. The elderly people around this country deserve better. They deserve to know that their government cares for them, but obviously the government does not. Elderly people are so disappointed that nothing is being done.

I certainly challenge the local member for Richmond, Mrs Elliot, to come out and fight for and champion her local people, because so far we have seen absolutely nothing. She has obviously had no influence on ministers and the Prime Minister to support pensioners in what they need. And if just once she would put the interests of her people ahead of her party, perhaps pensioners like Don and Nancy Morgan might get a break and might see this situation addressed.

I noted before that Senator Brown commented on regional Australia being seen as second rate. I think that was a very apt comment given what we are seeing from the government in their attitude towards the regions. One of the particular issues I would like to talk about today is the issue of hospitals and health care, particularly in the regions. It is particularly noticeable on the North Coast of New South Wales what an appalling job both the federal and the state Labor governments are doing in delivering health. The Tweed and Murwillumbah hospitals are both in absolute crisis because of Labor’s neglect and funding cuts.

In July, the member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, was pictured on the front page of the Tweed Daily News with the then state health minister—they have had a lot of changes in the New South Wales state Labor government in recent times—Reba Meagher, officially opening 30 beds.