[Greens-Media] Media Release: Greens candidate for Melbourne District announced - Victorian Health policy launched

[Greens Victoria Media]

Media Release: for immediate use
Wednesday August 16, 2006
Contact: Dr Richard Di Natale on (mob) 0425 771 246

The Greens announce Dr Richard Di Natale as candidate for Melbourne 
District: the Greens Victorian Health policy launched

The Greens today announced that Dr Richard Di Natale would contest the 
marginal seat of Melbourne District for the Greens. Melbourne is 
currently held by ALP member and Victorian Health Minister, Bronwen 
Pike. Dr Di Natale came within a few hundred votes of winning Melbourne 
in the 2002 election and is poised to become the first Green candidate 
in Australia to win a lower house seat at a state election.

At today's announcement, Dr Di Natale launched the Greens Victorian 
Health policy, the next in the series of policy announcements in the 
lead up to the November 25 state election.

"Health is an extremely important issue, not only for the residents of 
Melbourne, but for all Victorians,"said Dr Richard Di Natale. We've got 
to approach spending on health care as an investment rather than a cost."

"The most practical way to reduce the burden on our public hospital 
system - and cut waiting lists - is through a better resourced community 
health care sector, increased home based services for people with 
chronic conditions and a much greater focus on health promotion," said 
Dr Di Natale.

"That's why the Greens in state parliament after November 25 will work 
to increase in the number of community health centres with GPs, nurse 
practitioners and other health professional staff," said Dr Di Natale. 
"We also propose increased state funding for VicHealth programs, as well as
for public dental services and community-based mental health services."

Major initiatives in the Greens Victorian Health Policy* include:

- $100 million dollars over four years to build new community health 
centres in areas of need,

- $100 million growth funding over four years to increase state funded 
Home and Community Care Services (HACC) such as Personal Care, Nursing, 
Allied Health, Delivered Meals, Property Maintenance, and Assessment and 
Care Management,

- A $10 million dollar package over three years to provide support and 
incentives to encourage the co-location of GPs in community health centres,

- An additional $10 million over three years for VicHealth to develop 
initiatives that promote participation in physical and social 
activities, particularly among low income earners,

more ...

- A $10 million health promotion package to increase physical activity 
and good nutrition in schools children including school-based physical 
activity programs, healthy canteens, and "walking school buses",

- $5 million increase in dental health funding to reduce public waiting 
times for non-urgent dentures and general/restorative care,

- Immediately implement a ban on smoking in defined public spaces (as 
per the Queensland model),

- No privatisation of public hospitals by stealth through PPP funding.

Background on Dr Richard Di Natale, candidate for Melbourne District

Dr Richard Di Natale is a general practitioner and international public 
health specialist. He has worked in community health centres around 
Melbourne, with indigenous peoples in remote areas of Australia and he 
now travels regularly to India to work on a HIV prevention project.

Richard is a North Melbourne resident and well-known political 
campaigner in the Melbourne area, most notably almost winning the lower 
house seat of Melbourne against Bronwyn Pike at the 2002 state election 
and coming second to Jon So in the 2004 Mayoral campaign.

Richard played senior VFA football for 5 seasons and is an avid Richmond 
supporter but now relies on riding his bicycle and walking his dog to 
keep him fit.

For more information and comment please contact:
Dr Richard Di Natale on (mob) 0425 771 246
Or
Dave Lane on (mob) 0419 156 213

Background:
* The Victorian Greens Health policy is attached.

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