Hawkesbury Independent IND 166 March 2024 | Page 20

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POLITICS
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The office is located at Western Sydney University , Hawkesbury Campus Building R4 , College Drive , Richmond . M : PO Box 505 Richmond NSW 2753 T : 02 4578 0300 E : hawkesbury @ parliament . nsw . gov . au
Authorised by Robyn Preston MP . Funded using Parliamentary entitlements .

We don ’ t want paid parking at Hawkesbury Hospital !

with Robyn Preston , MP
Hawkesbury Hospital will transfer from St John of God Health Care to NSW Health from 1st July 2024 , as St John of God Health Care will not be renewing its contract .
This transfer was quite unexpected and has created uncertainty for the future of the hospital , staff and volunteers . In Parliament recently , I raised many questions on behalf of the community about the impact of this new arrangement .
Ensuring that staff won ’ t be worse off with their pay and work conditions must be a priority and I am aware that NSW Health is still finalising the detail , seemingly a work in progress .
Health Minister Ryan Park was asked whether Hawkesbury Hospital will continue to operate into the future once the new Rouse Hill Hospital opens . Minister Park confirmed that , “ Yes , we have no plans to reduce that . We have a belief that there ’ s a need for both hospitals in that area . We ’ re not going to be closing Hawkesbury Hospital .”
Well , that ’ s on the public record now , so I will hold the Minister to that declaration .
Less reassuring was the response I received in relation to ‘ paid parking ’ on site . Hawkesbury has never had to pay for parking and should never have to .
When the Deputy Secretary of NSW Health was asked whether free parking would be maintained at Hawkesbury Hospital after the transition , her response was , “ The hospital is coming into the public health system … the same rules apply to those staff who will now be part of the public health system and not have a different arrangement .” She believes that Hawkesbury health workers should pay to go to work !
The pay rise that nurses achieved will be eaten away by daily parking fees . Our health workers don ’ t need a new expense , simply for turning up to do their job .
I will be advocating to stop paid parking at Hawkesbury Hospital . After everything we have been through , we don ’ t need another layer of expense to cripple us !

Susan Templeman MP

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Office : 299 George Street , Windsor NSW 2756 ( across from Windsor Library ) Phone : ( 02 ) 4573 8222 Email : susan . templeman . mp @ aph . gov . au Mail : PO Box 855 , Windsor NSW 2756 OPEN : Mon - Fri 9am-5pm www . susantempleman . com . au
Authorised by S . Templeman MP , Labor , 299 George St Windsor NSW 2756

A fair deal for families and farmers

with Susan Templeman MP
We all know that a basket of groceries at the checkout is costing more than it used to , and the big question is : are the prices being charged are fair or not ?
In the view of the Albanese Government , Woolworths and Coles have excessive market power , and concentrations of power can lead to prices being higher than they should be . It can also mean growers not getting a fair deal when they supply their produce .
And so it ’ s right to be taking a look at this , to see what can be done to lower the cost of living .
Unlike the previous government , we ’ re not going to shrug our shoulders and put it in the too-hard basket ; we ’ re going to look for ways to make things fairer .
That ’ s why there are three inquiries underway , looking at various aspects of the supermarket chain , so we can understand this problem and find solutions .
The first , a Senate inquiry , is looking at price setting practices and market power of
major supermarkets .
We ’ ve also directed the ACCC , which monitors competition , to conduct an inquiry that will also look at pricing practices of the supermarkets and also will examine the relationship between wholesale and retail prices .
The third inquiry is headed by former Labor competition minister and economist Dr Craig Emerson , who has been commissioned by the Albanese government to review the Food and Grocery Industry Code of Conduct due to
our concerns that the current structure is too weak .
We also know farmers are saying they ’ re getting less for their produce – even though it hasn ’ t led to cheaper prices for consumers . It is clear to the government that there should be transparency through the supply chain .
These reviews are essential to give consumers a fair go at the checkout .
We will look at every option to put downward pressure on prices so families , and farmers , get a fair go .
20 ISSUE 166 // MARCH 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT