5000 strong petition to now go to NSW Government

A petition of over 5000 signatures was handed over today, October 4th, 2022, to members of both the State and Federal Government requesting that the long promised radiotherapy facilities be provided for the community of the South East of NSW.

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland MP and Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona

Phillips MP, carrying Statements of support from Shadow NSW Minister of Health, Hon Ryan Park MP, and Federal Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development, Hon Kristy McBain MP, took formal public receipt of the hugely subscribed Petition to Parliament from both communities with ONE Advocates’ Lou Dampney representing Eurobodalla, and local CAN ASSIST’s Branch Chair, Peter van Bracht is representing Bega Valley. After months of collecting signatures, head petitioners and representatives from across the electorate rallied in Moruya to formally present over 530 pages – totalling 5295 signatures calling for local radiotherapy services to be included in the development of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.

The petition will be presented to the Clerk of the NSW Legislative Assembly next week, with a formal response from The Hon. Brad Hazzard, Minister for Health required within 5 weeks.

In accepting the petition Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips said: "People on the Far South Coast with cancer, deserve to have access to radiation therapy locally. Along with their families or carers, they shouldn’t have to drive 3 hours each way to undergo life saving cancer treatment.

"Federally, the Albanese Government has committed $8 million for a radiation therapy centre for Moruya. It’s time the NSW State Government stopped ignoring local calls for a radiation therapy centre at the new Eurobodalla Hospital.

"It’s a fight I certainly won’t be letting go.

"Thanks to the over 5,000 people that have signed the petition that will now go to the NSW Parliament.

"Thanks to Dr Michael Holland MP - Member for Bega for your continued advocacy over many years and ONE Eurobodalla Hospital. Dr Michael Holland MP said “The Bega Electorate has already been identified as a high priority area for this service, which makes it all the more disappointing that the NSW

Government are still refusing to come to the table”

“Our population of over 76,000 residents, with the second highest aged demographic, and with the highest rates of many cancers – we need these services locally”

“I am pleased to receive this petition on behalf of the constituents of the Bega Electorate. In presenting the petition co-Head Petitioner Fitzroy and Mylène Boulting said "we have had the very great privilege of being witness to many extraordinary acts of truly heart-warming support from both the Eurobodalla and the Bega Valley communities including many local businesses, not least the markets and especially our own Moruya Markets: You could not ask for more emphatic backing: Thank you to everyone of them". "But last of all, a special vote of thanks has to go to the senior member of our Queanbeyan-based SNSWLHD Health executive, acting on behalf of the LHD headed up by Chief Executive Margaret Bennet. For it was that representative’s vehement, even sarcastic dismissal of the possibility of Local Radiotherapy being considered for our District, which in that very instant, ensured the creation of the present Petition. She had no idea of the community force she was unleashing by her display of sheer intransigence! An own goal if ever there was one!"