Campaign Launch-Health in Lake Macquarie

Today was the official campaign launch for the Newcastle Green's six candidates across the region. The event was held at the GUOOF Hall in Hamilton. Each of the Candidates had a topic to cover and mine was health. This is what I had to say.

Health in Lake Macquarie is a dichotomy. One the one hand, people choose to live in the area because of the rolling hills, the glistening lake and the fresh air, now Pasminco has closed. The mental health and active lifestyle benefits are considerable. Bit on the other hand the aging population, the physical isolation of many communities and the semi rural infrastructure that exists throughout western Lake Macquarie and Wyong make servicing the needs of the ‘not getting any younger’ community a challenge that requires a unique approach.

The Greens, as a party, are full of creative thinkers that work on a different political paradigm than the major parties. The Greens take a long term approach on all issues and health is no exception. Unless there are long term strategies put into place the projected population expansion of 60,000 people and minimal infrastructure will put this electorate in a desperate situation.

GP access in western Lake Macquarie is the 6th worse for GP shortages in urban NSW, 37th in urban Australia, and there has been a constant decline in bulk billing in Lake Macquarie over the past 5 years. The Greens support training more medical people and providing support for health professionals in rural and remote areas, like Lake Macquarire. The Greens also support the expansion of the community health Centres. This strategy seems one of the most realistic options to enable health services to be provided throughout the electorate close to the people to reduce the travelling time by patients.

Mental Health services are pitiful in Lake Macquarie. The closure of the Morisset hospital, with limited thought to accommodation and support services required to address outpatient care, has resulted in mental health issues becoming social issues within the western Lake Macquarie community. The Greens support accommodation, community care initiatives to support the needs of the people who need support.

Disability associated with an aging population is a social equity issue and as such a foundation principle of the Greens ethics. Safe pedestrian to be able to walk to the local shops and services are essential. Ramps, rails, toilets in public places and appropriate public transport options are all policy initiatives the Greens feel will make our communities remain accessible to all.

And let’s not forget about our youth. The health of our youth needs to be addressed. High unemployment and the remoteness of many Lake Macquarie suburbs, means that local ‘partying’ with excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main entertainment outlets. The Greens are committed to harm minimisation, exploring approaches which treat drug use as a health and social issue.

These are just some of the strategies and issues the Greens have on health within this electorate. Lake Macquarie has its own unique set of challenges, resourcing a geographically large electorate requires an innovative approaching I believe that the Greens have strong social and community ethics that will ensure the needs of people come first. If you have your health, whether its physical or mental you can deal with most other things.

Vote for you health tomorrow, today.