Hospital jobs losses a bogus claim
MEMBER for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert has been found guilty of unnecessarily scaring doctors and nurses about job losses following today’s COAG decision on hospital funding.Ms Gilbert wanted to pre-empt the outcome of today’s Council of Australian Governments meeting and proclaim that Mackay was in danger of losing 32 doctors and 113 nurses.There was never a danger that jobs would be cut.It was the size of the increase that was in dispute.It was the size of the increase that was in dispute.
Next step in ice fight
AN interim report from the National Ice Taskforce which has been presented to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) by the Prime Minister has identified six key areas which need attention in the fight against the drug scourge.These are welcome findings, and they are largely those which were raised at the two Ice Forums I conducted in Mackay and Bowen last month.The difficulties faced by family members battling to help someone who has fallen prey to the addiction, and the ease of access to a drug which has such devastating effects. were two things which stood out for me.
No support for new taxes
PEOPLE don’t want a hip-pocket hit; they want to see governments live within their means.State premiers have gathered in Sydney today for a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) retreat.Some premiers are making noises about raising the GST, while others are suggested a hip-pocket hit by raising the Medicare levy.I’m opposed to both because people want governments to live within their means and stop wasteful spending.