THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING
MEMBER FOR HINDMARSH
FIONA PHILLIPS MP
MEMBER FOR GILMORE
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW OPPOSITION LEADER
MEMBER FOR KOGARAH
DR MICHAEL HOLLAND MP
MEMBER FOR BEGA
LABOR TO INVEST IN EUROBODALLA RADIATION THERAPY CENTRE
An Albanese Labor Government will boost cancer services for the Eurobodalla Shire by investing $8 million in a local radiation therapy centre.
We know cancer patients in rural and regional Australia, including in Gilmore, have a lower chance of surviving cancer than metropolitan Australians.
And we know that’s because of unequal access to quality, vital cancer treatment facilities close to home.
Labor is committed to addressing this inequality.
People in the Eurobodalla Shire deserve the same vital hospital care as people in Sydney and larger regions – and with this $8 million commitment, Labor will help provide it.
By contrast, Scott Morrison broke his promise at the 2019 election to deliver a radiation therapy centre for the Eurobodalla region.
As a result, cancer patients and their families in the region are still being forced to travel hours to get treatment in Canberra or Nowra.
Patients like local cancer survivor Cathie Hurst, who was diagnosed with cancer in March 2021, was told she had to choose from accessing treatment in either Canberra or Sydney.
Cathie appeared as a witness to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry in October last year to share her experience and said:
“Travelling meant that I had to be prepared for whether I was going to vomit on a plane, have diarrhoea attacks or anything, which is highly embarrassing and concerning. You get shaky just thinking about can you get on that bus for that long or the train or whatever it was you were taking. The difference between that and actually having a hospital or a facility in your region where you can drive yourself, have your 15-minute radiation treatment and come home—it would make all the difference to people.”
Labor has heard and responded to Cathie and the other cancer patients in the region that share the agony of having to travel long distances for treatment.
This radiation therapy centre in the Eurobodalla region will service a region of 80,000 people.
Only an Albanese Labor Government will invest in a regional radiation therapy centre for the Eurobodalla region.
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Quotes attributable to Fiona Phillips, Member for Gilmore:
“I have continued to fight for a radiation therapy centre for the Eurobodalla region since before I was elected, including tabling a community petition in the Australian Parliament.
“I have never lost sight of the immense pain that cancer patients and their families undergo as they are forced to travel long distances for treatment that they should never have to do.
“Thank you to Dr Michael Holland and the community who have continued to fight for what people need.”
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Quotes attributable to Mark Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing:
“It is disappointing Scott Morrison has failed to deliver this crucial health care commitment to the Eurobodalla region."
“Only Labor can be trusted to protect and strengthen Medicare and deliver world class medical care regardless of where you live.”
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Comment from Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“Under the Liberals and Nationals, our regions have fallen further behind when it comes to critical health care.
“People shouldn’t have to drive for hours to receive life-saving treatment.”
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Comment from Dr Michael Holland, Labor Member for Bega:
“NSW Labor welcomes this announcement from Federal Labor.
“Access to critical health care in our regions is a top priority for NSW Labor and we have been strong advocates for the Eurobodalla Hospital to open at level four status.”
