Brendan Catanzariti has vowed to push forward with a push to split Griffith health services away from Wagga. Photo: Denny Fachin.
Health advocates who want Griffith hospital to split from the Wagga establishment have vowed to continue their fight, regardless of whether or not the town’s local government body supports them.
At a meeting on Tuesday (23 September), Griffith Council decided to conduct a community survey and request a meeting with the NSW Health Minister before deciding its position on a proposal to form a new ‘Western Riverina Health District’ (WRHD).
Under a plan drafted by Murray MP Helen Dalton, Wagga-based bureaucracy Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) would cease making decisions on staffing and services at Griffith hospital and health facilities in surrounding towns. Instead, the WRHD would be formed to make decisions at a more local level.
Real estate agent Brendan Catanzariti, who is part of a WRHD committee that facilitated a protest rally on the weekend, says he will continue to push to get more signatures on a petition in favour of a WRHD.
“We would have loved council to support us straight up, but I respect they have to go through their due process,” Mr Catanzariti said.
“But we don’t need council’s permission to keep going forward. We fought for and won a new hospital in 2017 without any council support and will do it again.”
The paper-based petition, which is available to sign at the Office of Helen Dalton MP and businesses across town, is aiming to get 10,000 signatures – the benchmark required to ensure it will be debated in NSW Parliament.
At last weekend’s rally, Mayor Doug Curran said his council had not yet adopted a position on the proposed split.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Deputy Mayor Anne Napoli put forward a motion that the council immediately back the WRHD, while Cr Shari Blumer lodged a motion that council take a more measured approach by conducting surveys before adopting a position.
Retired farmer Marlene O’Connell and hospital canteen worker Judie Saddler express support for the split at a rally on the weekend. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The motions were lodged too late to be voted on, but Mayor Curran combined them in a series of recommendations he brought to council.
“In my view, the best path forward is one that acknowledges the strong calls for a Western Riverina Health District, but also commits council to community engagement and evidence gathering so when we put our position to the State Government it is credible, robust and representative of the community as a whole,” he said.
The mayor recommended council undertaking community engagement, including a survey of residents to obtain evidence of community preferences regarding governance of the Griffith hospital. The council would receive a report within two months outlining the results of this consultation, at which time they’d decide whether to adopt a formal advocacy position in favour of the establishment of a WRHD.
The mayor expressed concerns that towns outside Griffith hadn’t been consulted on the split and that there were 26,000 people not at the rally who hadn’t had a chance to make their views known.
“I don’t think we have enough information at this stage [to make a decision]… I’ve been inundated with people that aren’t sure whether a split is the best way to go.”
Cr Mark Dal Bon reiterated his support for a split and said he didn’t think a survey was needed.
“The community have spoken. I’ve seen a rally for the split but I haven’t seen a rally against the split. I’ve seen a petition for the split but I haven’t seen a petition against the split,” he said.
“If we wait for the people that haven’t spoken, we will have to wait a long time.”
Cr Scott Groat agreed.
“We’ve got two senior doctors who know exactly what’s going on, the community has spoken, we don’t need any more surveys or consultation,” he said.
Crs Groat, Dal Bon and Anne Napoli voted against the mayor’s recommended approach, but it was passed by a majority of councillors by five votes to three.
Mr Catanzariti said he was confused by council’s approach.
“Council has spent plenty of our money over the years without consulting the community, but on this occasion they want to consult when it’s not costing the ratepayers anything,” he asked.
“We had 2000 at the rally, I’m not sure many people will need to fill out surveys before we know what the community thinks.
“The doctors know best and no doctor has spoken out against the split.”
