|
Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is disillusioned and angry with Health Ministers Nicola Roxon’s decision to abandon the Magnetic Resonance Imaging license for Port Augusta.
“The machine was first promised by the Howard Government and confirmed in early 2008 by Nicola Roxon and I have been asking the government to honour its commitment since then,” Mr Ramsey said.
Mr Ramsey said he was first alerted to the decision in October by one of the tenderers and sought an urgent meeting with the Minister where she committed to reconsidering.
“I was informed on December 22 the Minister was confirming her decision to cancel the project. Since then I have appealed to her twice, the last time on January 18. She has not replied to my correspondence and I have lost patience.
“Since the original rejection I have been made privy to one of the tenders. There are no grounds for rejection of the tender. The proponents are prepared to meet all the costs, all they ask is the granting of the operating license which means they can claim the same Medicare rebates every other operator in Australia claims.
“A private operator is prepared to meet all costs there is no financial risk to the tax-payer.
“I have made these points to the Minister, she is ignoring my advice. She is ignoring regional South Australia.
“The only way the Health Department could possibly maintain this decision saves money, is if you assume regional SA is under serviced. If we are under serviced it should be fixed.
“I am not convinced there are not links to SA Country Health on this decision, even though State Health Minister Hill says publicly he supports the project, however he has been unable to find a suitable tenderer for the medical imaging contract at the Port Augusta Hospital and the correlation raises questions.
“The Mayors in Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla have all lobbied for this machine, signifying its importance to the whole region.
“The tenderers were not asked to meet any deficiencies in their tenders despite the department extending the process three times.
“The one participant I am aware of has made financial commitments over the two-year period as to be able to guarantee the available real estate to locate the service in an appropriate position as required by the process.
“The whole affair is an absolute disgrace and is just another example of the Rudd Government’s failure to deliver on its election promises- Fuel Watch, Grocery Watch, Child Care Centres, GP Super Clinics, agedcare beds, school computers and the National Broadband Network are all graphic examples of all their all talk no action mode of operation.
“Failure to deliver on this commitment demonstrates the Government’s disregard for regional Australia and accompanies the closure of the Australian Technical College, the impending shut down of EC support for drought farmers and the attempt, now reversed, to abandon cataract surgery in country SA.”
Mr Ramsey said he had appealed to the Minister to take personal interest in this matter as he believes she has had incomplete or negligent advice from her department and is still hoping for intervention.
He urges people who are incensed at this decision to contact Minister Roxon at Parliament House Canberra or email Nicola.Roxon.MP@ aph.gov.au
“I have tried to work with the Minister on this project and took her commitments at face value. My patience has run out. We are heading for an election this year voters will have an opportunity to mark how this Government treats regional Australia.”
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith (08) 8633 1744
February 4, 2010
|
