[Greens-Media] Budget falls short on vital services for the Hunter

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
19th June 2007

Budget falls short on vital services for the Hunter


Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today described the NSW state budget as bad news
for people in the Hunter. 

“The budget falls short of delivering adequate new spending on
transport and health services in the Hunter region,” said Ms
Rhiannon.

“As the Labor Government delivers its twelfth budget surplus, vital
public services in the Hunter region will continue to suffer from a lack
of proper funding.

“The transport budget is $3.3 billion yet there is no money for the
Sydney to Newcastle fast rail service.  In contrast there are
significant funding increases for putting more freight on roads.

“There is no money to upgrade the Newcastle rail service and extend
bus services across the Hunter.  Most of RailCorp’s $1.5 billion
budget is being spent in Sydney with no money allocated for CityRail
services in Newcastle.

“$201 million has been allocated to upgrading the Country Regional
Network, but the Greens suspect most of the $50 million earmarked for
the Hunter will be spent on new rail infrastructure for the mining
industry, not passenger services.

“The health budget of $11.9 billion includes $71 million for the
Mater hospital in Newcastle, but this money is tied up in a public
private partnership.  After the failure of the Port Macquarie PPP
hospital, the Greens are wary of a health budget locked into privately
funded hospitals.  

“Dental health has reached crisis point in regional NSW and there is
no relief in sight after this budget.  

“A paltry $4 million has been allocated to service the 200,000 people
on the waiting list for public dental services in NSW.  The overall
budget for dental health across NSW now stands at $134 million.  What a
disgrace.

“Mental health spending has been skewed towards end-point emergency
hospital care with insufficient funding for additional community
services and support services.  One in five people in the Hunter need
access to mental health services.

“This budget has missed the mark on building sustainable public
services for the people of the Hunter.  

“The Government’s budget priorities are focussed on improving
services in Sydney, and the Hunter region which contributes so much to
state revenue through coal royalties will miss out,” said Ms
Rhiannon.

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon  9230 3551 ; 0427 861 568


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Ph: (02) 9230 3551 
Fax: (02) 9230 3550
susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
www.leerhiannon.org.au